Almond's Fic Blog

"memory" - part 36

2009-11-21T19:56:00.001-07:00

AYA - SEPTEMBER 25TH

I sighed and glanced over at the bar. Lazily, I let my eyes wander all over the lone figure at the counter. The stylish clothes, clinging in all the right places... The toned muscles briefly making themselves known as she picked up her drink... The charming smile flashed at the bartender...

Maki glanced over her shoulder and caught my eye. She winked at me and turned back to her drink.

"You know?!" my date exclaimed. I shook my head and turned my attention away from my gorgeous girlfriend and back to the woman in front of me.

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked, taking a sip of my iced tea. My date laughed and began prattling on about whatever it was she was talking about. Honestly, I'm not even sure she knew.

I managed to keep my eyes focused, but my mind wandered back to Maki's side. I knew she hated this. I wanted to be with her now, to reassure her, to remind her why we were doing this.

We were scared.

Stupid Miki. She hated Gocchin so much and so irrationally. I mean, as far as Miki knew, Maki had never done anything to her!

...well, other than slap her that one time...

But every time I mentioned Maki, Miki would get this weird look on her face, her lips would get tight, and she would stop talking.

And considering how strangely protective Miki could be of me... and how she had Maki in a choke hold against a wall not too long ago...

And, it's not like us keeping it from Miki was hurting anything. It's not like we were sleeping together yet, so Miki still was stuck with that ridiculous bet she'd made me. ...and I was still stuck with these ridiculous dates she sends me on...

"You know!?" my date exclaimed.

"Of course," I smiled weakly, still completely clueless as to what she was talking about. I tilted my head and studied my date for the evening. She always reminded me of a horse. I'm still not sure why... Maybe it was something to do with her teeth...?

"Oh well! At least the food was good, neigh?" she laughed loudly.

"What!?" I exclaimed.

"...I said 'At least the food was good, ne?'...?" she looked at me in alarm.

"Right. That 'ne'... right. Um.. Speaking of food, are you almost ready to order?" I asked, trying to ignore the strange thoughts in my head.

"Well, I'm wondering what this gratuity dish is and why smaller parties can't get it."

"Excuse me?" I stared at her. She leaned over and pointed at my menu. "Um. That says gratuity is included for parties of 8 or more."

"Right! Why can't we get that dish?!" she demanded. I gaped at her for a moment.

"Um... maybe it's a large dish," I said finally, trying not to laugh. She seemed satisfied with this answer. "You know, Mai, I didn't even know you liked women," I said finally. Satoda looked up at me in confusion. "I always thought you were straight..."

"Oh, I am! 100%!" she smiled. "People sometimes think I'm not because of Yoshiko, though." My jaw dropped. There was a loud crash behind us. I turned and saw Maki leaning heavily against the bar, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

Damn her and her good hearing. I turned and gestured for the waiter.

"Check, please."

part 35

"memory" - part 35

2009-08-30T10:21:00.002-06:00

GOTO - SEPTEMBER 23RD

We stared at one another intensely. Neither of us wanted to back down, but one of us had to. Someone had to give in, to let the other win, but it sure as hell wasn't going to be me. Because, dammit, this is my home and -

"Maki, don't make me tie you up," Aya interrupted my thoughts. She smiled and narrowed her eyes. "Because I will. And not in a way you'd enjoy."

My eyes widened and I quickly sat down on the couch, hands folded in my lap, and smiled sweetly up at her. Aya giggled.

"I knew you'd see it my way!" she practically sang as she skipped into the kitchen. "The birthday girl isn't allowed to clean up after her party."

"Yes ma'am," I replied in a childish voice. I leaned back and peered into the kitchen. Aya was bending down to get the dustpan out from under the sink.

"Stop looking at my ass, Goto."

"I was just making sure you were finding everything!!" I exclaimed defensively.

"Riiight," she laughed, walking back into the living room. "Maki, you don't have to sit there like that. ...Actually, please don't. It's a little creepy." I chuckled and stood up.

"What would you like me to do then? Since you're apparently in charge."

"Uh... I don't know, sing some karaoke? I need to get Sayumi's voice out of my head," she winced.

"Yes ma'am!" I saluted, marching over to the karaoke machine. I flipped through the CDs I had, looking for the right song. I glanced up. "Aya, what about..."

The words died on my lips as I watched her. She wasn't doing anything special. Just smiling to herself as she wiped up this, swept up that, picked up the empty glasses. But... I don't know why... My heart started pounding so loudly in my chest that I was sure she could hear it. I couldn't take my eyes off of her... It was almost like she had a spell over me that no matter how mundane the task, I just couldn't look away.

"What about what?" she asked, turning to look at me. She raised an eyebrow. I shook my head to clear my clouded mind.

"Nothing. I know what to do."

I turned back to the CDs and pulled one out. I popped the disc into the machine and picked up the microphone. Aya grinned as the song began.

"Hey, you're like my boyfriend anyway," I sang. "Won't you become my lover?"

Aya began dancing a little as she cleaned up, swaying her hips to the beat, twirling a little as she walked by me to put the dirty dishes in the sink.

"Hey, more than anyone else in this world, I have confidence in loving you."

"Apparently it's Fujimoto night at karaoke?" Aya commented, walking back into the room. I reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Why did you stop me?" I asked, setting down the microphone as the music played behind me.

"You're missing your cue," Aya mused. "What do you mean? When?"

"When I was talking to Yossy on the balcony," I replied, looking into her eyes. Aya sighed.

"Because she doesn't need to know."

"She deserves to know the truth!" I protested. "I lied to her and - "

"You've caused enough damage for the two of them as it is," Aya cut me off. "They've gotten past it. They've worked through it and moved on."

"But - "

"But nothing. Don't reopen their old wounds just to make yourself feel better."

I looked down at my feet and said nothing.

"Hey," Aya reached out and gently touched my cheek. I looked up. "You want to do the right thing - which is a wonderful and rare trait nowadays. But sometimes you have to do the wrong thing for the right reasons."

"Yeah..."

"It wasn't your fault." I looked away. Aya took my face into her hands and looked me straight in the eyes. "Maki. It was not your fault. You were drunk, she was drunk. These things happen."

"But I..."

"You're a human being. You're allowed to make mistakes. You're allowed to screw up and have regrets. Don't ever forget that, ok?" Her eyes searched mine. I wanted to cry, to curl up in her arms, to lose myself in those eyes.

I cleared my throat and straightened up, turning away as I blinked away the tears that had started to form. She smiled.

"Your song's almost over." Aya turned to walk away. I swallowed hard. It was risky. I was scared out of my mind. This could ruin everything. And I said I'd never do it again. I swore to myself!

But...

I reached out and touched her shoulder, turning her back around to face me. I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her gently.

"Maki..." she murmured when I pulled away.

"Hey, you're like my boyfriend anyway," I sang along softly. "Won't you become my lover? Hey, more than anyone else in this world, I have confidence in loving you."

She stared into my eyes and bit her lower lip.

"Hey, you're like my boyfriend anyway," I continued, my voice starting to shake. "You knew about everything. Hey, I want to feel your kindness - "

Aya's soft lips cut me off. She wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me close. I moved my hands, tangling my fingers in her hair, as I turned my head to deepen our kiss.

part 34

part 36

"memory" - part 34

2009-01-11T07:43:00.002-07:00

YOSSY - SEPTEMBER 22ND

Miki opened her eyes cleared her throat. We all stood there expectantly.

"Rika, Maki, Kei, Yocchan, Yaguchi, Shiba, Gaki, Eri, Yocchan, Aya, Nakazawa, Yui, Konno, and when the hell did Aika get here?" she recited calmly. I grinned broadly.

"Told you. Now, pay up," I smirked and flopped down next to Miki on the couch, holding out my hand as the grumbling crowd dug into their purses for money.

"Whaaaaaat?! I thought putting you in there twice would throw her off," Yaguchi complained, slamming a wad of bills into my open hand. Miki grinned and wiggled her fingers.

"I have very talented hands," she laughed.

"I can attest to that," I piped up, looking happily at the growing stack of money in my hand.

"Didn't need to know that," Risa groaned, slinking away into the crowd.

"I'm not sure if 'talent' is the right word, but being able to identify someone by the feel of their ass is kind of creepy," Rika commented.

"I bet I could do boobs too. Would that help?" Miki smiled sweetly.

I sighed and tapped Aika on the shoulder.

"What d'ya... Oh! Yoshizawa! How are you?" Aika smiled sweetly.

"Yeah, drop the act, kid. What are you doing here?" I demanded. Aika stared at me blankly.

"I don't know what you - "

"I told you to drop the innocent act already!" I laughed. "You know perfectly well that this is an adults only party. We barely let in the girls who can't legally drink yet. And you, my little puppy, are only fourteen."

"If it's adults only, then why's Tanaka here?" she retorted, thumbing over her shoulder at Reina, who was busy chatting up Takahashi.

"She's got what... 2 months left before she's 18? Close enough. But... I mean, it's not YOU, Mitsy, but, you know... if we let you in, then next time, Koharu will come. And then half of Berryz will show up, and... quite frankly, it's a slippery slope that leads to Maimai and a bunch of random Eggs."

"You of all people should know that I can be discreet," Aika smirked. "I never told anyone about the time I caught you and Fujimoto - "

"YOU!" Aika and I jerked and turned to the source of the authoritative shout. Nakazawa's eyes narrowed and she stalked towards us, sake bottle in hand.

"Yes, Nakazawa?" Aika replied, looking innocently up at the leader to end all leaders. Nakazawa pointed at the cup in Aika's hand.

"That damn well better be apple juice," she snapped.

"It is as far as you know," Aika smiled sweetly and took another sip of her beer.

The entire party went dead silent. Even Risa stopped her weird multilingual karaoke rendition of Furusato. Every eye in the room was on Nakazawa Yuko and the suddenly very ballsy Mitsui Aika.

"That's all I've ever asked," Nakazawa said finally, reaching her hand out and slapping Aika on the back.

"I can't see you!" Sayumi belted out tunelessly into the microphone. "This really long Sunday!"

"What song is that?" Miki asked Aya loudly.

"Um... your debut single?" Aya stared at her incredulously.

"No, that can't be right. That song had a tune," Miki retorted. Sayu glared from her spot next to the karaoke machine and began to sing louder.

"WE MET BY ACCIDENT! LATELY, I'M CALLING YOU EVERY DAY!!" I winced and swiftly escaped onto the balcony.

"Hey," a voice said softly as I shut the glass door behind me. I glanced over towards the sound.

"Hey, birthday girl!" I laughed. "Hiding from your party?"

"Wouldn't you?" Maki replied with a wry grin. I chuckled.

"Sayu's singing on the karaoke machine," I explained, gesturing towards the closed door.

"Oh, thank God. It sounded like there was a dying animal in my living room," she laughed, setting her empty glass down on the edge of the railing. I pointed at it.

"Did you want me to sneak back in and get you a refill?" I offered. "Since you're the birthday girl and all... Can't have you getting sober." I grinned.

"Oh, it was just iced tea," she replied. "I'm... not drinking much these days."

"Yeah, me either... Nothing like a little drunken amnesia to scare you sober for a while," I laughed. She stared wordlessly out over the city. Neither of us spoke for a minute. "...Sorry," I said finally. "I didn't mean to bring that up. I really didn't - "

"I need to tell you something," Maki said suddenly. She still stared out at the view.

"Ok...?"

"I didn't... I mean, I wasn't entirely..." she sighed heavily and turned to face me. "I didn't tell you - "

"YOSSY!" Aya exclaimed, slamming the sliding glass door open. Maki and I both jumped.

"Aya, what in the - " Aya grabbed me by the arm and dragged me towards the door.

"Sayumi told Mikitty that her karaoke version of Aenai Nagai Nichiyoubi was better! I think - "

"SHIT!" I cursed, running past Aya and into the living room.

"Aya..." I heard Maki say quietly.

"I know... But don't do it," I heard Aya reply just before she shut the door. I didn't have time to think, though. I grabbed my homicidal girlfriend by the waist as she lunged for Sayu.

"Yocchan, LET ME DOWN!" Miki practically spat, struggling against my grasp.

"No."

"Ah~ My prince has arrived to save me from the evil witch~!" Sayu exclaimed.

"Sayu, shut up," I said calmly. "Miki, honey, calm down."

"She said hers was better because she was way cuter than I've ever been!" Miki growled.

"Baby, you don't need 'cute' when you're that damn sexy," I whispered in her ear. She looked over at me and a smile slowly spread across her face. I smiled down at her. "Now... why don't you go call off that silly bet with Aya?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Never!" she proclaimed, wiggling out of my arms. I groaned in defeat as my girlfriend began running around the party, setting up her best friend on a fresh set of the worst blind dates known to man.

...Wait a second, where did she think she was...

"Mitsy~!" Miki called in a sing-song voice. "How old are you again?"

"MIKI, NO!" I exclaimed, taking off after her again.

"Hmm...." Sayumi reached over and poked Risa's shoulder.

"Whaaat?" Risa mumbled grumpily, taking another sip of her drink. Sayu pointed in front of them.

"Is that a microwave or a television?" she asked, tilting her head to one side. Risa stared at the object intently.

"I... I don't know... maybe both....?"

"Ok, that's it," I sighed, reaching over their heads and snatching their drinks away. "You two have had enough."

"USO!" Risa exclaimed.

"Whyyy?" Sayu whined.

"Well, for one, we're the only ones left. It's three in the morning and Maki's asked me to kick everyone out."

"USO!" Risa exclaimed again.

"And two, because this is a bookshelf."

part 33

part 35

For those who don't know II

2009-01-11T07:36:00.004-07:00

Again, here's what's happened with me in the past 3 months...
- My mom and Grandma drove me increasingly insane (and I've bitched about that enough for the past 3 months that I really don't want to get into it again ^^;)
- Because of the above, I became so stressed out that I was basically not myself and entered into a lengthy writer's block of doom.
- I discovered my girlfriend has the patience of a saint <3
- I found a roommate and will be moving out next Saturday
- The glee of the above drove me to not give a shit about my home drama and enabled me to actually write a damn chapter yesterday~

Anyway, I'll be posting a new-to-you chapter in a bit. I was actually a couple chapters ahead, but I didn't feel comfortable posting when I knew I wasn't going to be able to write any time soon.

Thank you for your patience. I am still going to "slay the monster", but life got in the way. Any words of gratitude should be credited to my brilliant girlfriend who kept gently reminding me that I have fans and do need to finish this.

gAK? IRC? GET BACK TO EPIC FIC!

2008-10-26T19:54:00.004-06:00

yeah, yeah, yeah...

I just posted two new fics.

Well, actually, one new fic and one old one that I hadn't posted here before.

Both are IRC-style chat log fics and are written by gAK. gAK is The Great & Almond Kueken aka the writing team of myself and my girlfriend. We have written other things, but they're not appropriate for the blog >.>;

Anyway, I hope you enjoy even though it's not the Epic Fic Trilogy Beast That Won't Die.

IRC Chat Fic II by gAK

2008-10-26T19:52:00.001-06:00

* MikiFanNo1 entered Nakazawa's Harem *
hANGAY: Hi Kore!
OkitegaZzz: Hi stalker.
SomeGirls!Touch: "SEE! I JUMPED OFF BEFORE THE SHIP SANK!"
hANGAY: We're allowed to kiss other girls now, as long we don't make a big fuss about it...
SomeGirls!Touch: ...........shit.
ANGAY: and let them tape it for PVs sometimes
MikiStoleMyBra: reminds me... who wanted a copy of YoMiki making out?
* MikiFanNo1 steals tape
MikiStoleMyBra: lol, check your DCC, Miki2
MikiFanNo1: O.O
* SomeGirls!Touch is now known as TheseBoobsAreMadeForBo
hANGAY: who's Bo?
TheseBoobsAreMadeForBo: ...dammit, it's supposed to be Bouncing >.<
* TheseBoobsAreMadeForBo is now known as Boobs *
OkitegaZzz: Is that you, Maki or is it Yui?
* OkitegaZzz feels*
OkitegaZzz: ah, it's Maki.
hANGAY: oh, silicone?
Boobs: YOGHURT DAMNIT!!
hANGAY: riiiiightt
OkitegaZzz: silicone yoghurt... fancy....
OkitegaZzz: sounds like a bad batsu game from H!M
hANGAY: Remember the one time we made Takahashi drink Tsunku's special juice?
MikiFanNo1: WTFBBQ?!
hANGAY: He was soooo angry, when he found out we stole his daily testosterone-drink, which makes him be a little more manly *lol*
MikiFanNo1: ...oh
hANGAY: *grin* what were YOU thinking?
MikiFanNo1: ...
hANGAY: OMGAH NO. WTF. WHY WOULD WE HAVE THAT!?
hANGAY: I need something cleansing now. SOMEONE GET ON WEBCAM AND FLASH ME ;_;
ANGAY: I'm comin' honey!
OkitegaZzz: sure you're not already flashing Rika, if she's comin' already...?
hANGAY: *grins* I don't need to get undressed for that
* MikiStoleMyBra hides Mr. Moonlight Pics *
MikiStoleMyBra: eh... ....no.
OkitegaZzz: ._. et tu, Ayaya...
hANGAY: *grin*
MikiStoleMyBra: I was just sorting my Yossy Gallery on my comp here when I stumbled over them....
OkitegaZzz: ....
MikiStoleMyBra: Whoops.
hANGAY: *griiiiiiiiiin*
ANGAY: Who needs gallery when you have Yossy in a tie on webcam?
Boobs: Tie? That's nothing new...
OkitegaZzz: Maki? I think, it's tie ONLY...
Boobs: .....Rika, mind to take some screencaps?
ANGAY: .....on it...
Boobs: *waits*
Boobs: *waits longer*
Boobs: AND SHARE!?
ANGAY: oh
OkitegaZzz: she's braindead now... don't mind her
MikiStoleMyBra: c'mon, pics or it didn't happen!!
OkitegaZzz: ._.; aya...?
MikiStoleMyBra: ...
MikiFanNo1: Back!!! ....what pics?
OkitegaZzz: Yocchan in just a tie
MikiFanNo1: ...
MikiFanNo1: just watched that YoMiki vid....
MikiFanNo1: what should be new about THAT?
OkitegaZzz: Wait, WHAT?
OkitegaZzz: As your mistress, I demand a link!!
MikiFanNo1: um... I linked you... do you never check your DCC window?
OkitegaZzz: ...SHIT
MikiFanNo1: btw... Miki... do you still own those Hello!Kitty undies? They are soooo adorable... on the floor...
OkitegaZzz: ...
MikiStoleMyBra: I gave em to her
MikiStoleMyBra: was the first to take em off her as well ah, good old times...
MikiFanNo1: Really? Great buy - they make her ass look, well... existant
OkitegaZzz: ...
hANGAY: Oh, the blue ones?
MikiFanNo1: Yeah
MikiStoleMyBra: Yup
hANGAY: Yeah, those are nice
Boobs: Yeah, fancy light blue
ANGAY: Those are Hello! Kitty?
Boobs: Hey! I've seen the vid too!
OkitegaZzz: ....
MikiStoleMyBra: ...they are really tight, but it's worth the effort, I tell you
MikiFanNo1: yeah, there's a hello kitty on the butt...
ANGAY: ah, I never looked there
hANGAY: Rika's quick to strip you down *nod*
HP_Leader: One more word about light blue panties and I ban you all permanently!
hANGAY: SHIT, YUKO'S UP
OkitegaZzz: THANK GOD!
* MikiFanNo1 has quit. Reason: zOMG
HP_Leader: you're welcome
Boobs: Yuuchan, since when are you nice to Miki? o.O;
* HP_Leader has booted Boobs. Reason: DO NOT QUESTION ME!
hANGAY: o.o;
* VeryRipeMelon has joined Nakazawa's Harem
VeryRipeMelon: WE DO NOT DISBAND!
* VeryRipeMelon has left Nakazawa's Harem
OkitegaZzz: um... great.
hANGAY: THAT was good...
hANGAY: Thanks, Rika-chan
OkitegaZzz: Oh, for getting the naked Tsunku image out of your brain?
hANGAY: ...DAMMIT MIKI
ANGAY: One self rub on cam and we're back to chan, are we?
OkitegaZzz: THAT'S FOR THE PANTY TALK, BITCHES! ~_~
MikiFanNo1: MY MISTRESS, I'M BACK!
OkitegaZzz: MY STALKER!
hANGAY: ...wtf, Kore, I thought you left the channel?
MikiFanNo1: I'm good at hiding ._.;
ANGAY: ...kowai
OkitegaZzz: and I am good in sneaking behind ppls backs as well... it helps groping their butts
AiLoveHer: the light blue hello kittie panties?
OkitegaZzz: WHERE DO YOU COME FROM!?!?
hANGAY: Seriously, Kore - how did you get back in...?
MikiFanNo1: I have my ways
MikiFanNo1: brb. my phone's ringing
hANGAY: WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU'D COME BACK!?!!!!
* BananaLoversLover joins Nakazawa's Harem
AiLoveHer: hey Eri
BananaLoversLover: HI MIKI MAMMA!!!
BananaLoversLover: hi... Reina?
OkitegaZzz: ...wtf happened to that group after I left?
* HP_Leader has kicked OkitegaZzz. Reason: IT BECAME AWESOME
hANGAY: ...
ANGAY: Where's Maki anyway? she usually rejoins...
BananaLoversLover: Maybe she didn't get the memo?
hANGAY: ...what memo?
AiLoveHer: stfu, turtle
BananaLoversLover: ...um... the memo with... the...
BananaLoversLover: ...memo wa sukoshi nagai kedoooo~
ANGAY: wtf.
AiLoveHer: smoooth.
Da Leader: WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN HERE?!
hANGAY: ...TWO NAKAZAWAS?!
MikiFanNo1: back
Da Leader: AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU. HPLEADER FREAK!?
HP_Leader: I'M THE LEADER OF HELLO! PROJECT
MikiFanNo1: Oh, good, you got in, Nakazawa-san.
Da Leader: oh, it's you ~_~
HP_Leader: ~_~
hANGAY: ...Miki just called me - she can't get back into the channel?
* ANGAY puts on clothes... too many ppl in here *
Da Leader: Yeah, some wacko changed the password
MikiFanNo1: Yup. I had to help Nakazawa-san in the back way.
hANGAY: ...memo, Kamei?
BananaLoversLover: um...
hANGAY: *raises an eyebrow*
BananaLoversLover: um...!
* AiLoveHer has left Nakazawa's Harem
BananaLoversLover: GOOD IDEA
* BananaLoversLover has left Nakazawa's Harem
hANGAY: Do you want me to shabondama you!?
hANGAY: damn, too late
ANGAY: she would have liked that anyway....
hANGAY: true
ANGAY: You can always shabondama me ^_-
hANGAY: wait, who's HP_Leader?
HP_Leader: I'm the leader of H!P!
Da Leader: it's Takahashi, dumbass
hANGAY: ...wtf no wai
* Da Leader sets +k to #Nakazawa's Harem
* Boobs has joined Nakazawa's Harem
* OkitegaZzz has joined Nakazawa's Harem
OkitegaZzz: WTF WAS THAT?!
HP_Leader: ...
Da Leader: You have 2 minutes to get out of my channel before Yasuda Kei and a small army of eggs physically show up at your door.
Boobs: ...what the hell happened after I left...?
hANGAY: it all went to crap
MikiStoleMyBra: Don't worry, folks! Kore just been here and got my cam to tape it!
Da Leader: 90 .... 89.... 88...
HP_leader: WAIT WAIT!
Da leader: 87... what? ... 85
HP_Leader: BUT I *AM* THE LEADER OF HP!!!!!
Da Leader: Not till April 1, sparky
hANGAY: and dead in 79 sec...
* HP_Leader has left Nakazawa's Harem
hANGAY: awww
OkitegaZzz: yeah, I wanted to see that
Da Leader: See what?
* ANGAY pulls out Pom-Pom's and cheers
ANGAY: WE WON!!
hANGAY: Keichan and her egg army
Da Leader: HA! Kei's passed out on my floor
hANGAY: ...it was a bluff?
Da Leader: I'm that good.
* Da Leader has kicked ANGAY. Reason: My win, my cheer. Kanpai.
MikiStoleMyBra: ...then what did Kore need the cam for?
Da Leader: now gtfo, I'm hung over
* Da Leader has kicked hANGAY. Reason: Hair too spiky.
* Da Leader has kicked OkitegaZzz. Reason: Boring enka was my territory first.
* Da Leader has kicked Boobs. Reason: Avex traitor
* Da Leader has kicked MikiFanNo1. Reason: Who the hell are you again?
* Da Leader has kicked MikiStoleMyBra. Reason: Then get it back and stop whining.
Da Leader: Ah, peace...
* VeryRipeMelon has joined Nakazawa's Harem
VeryRipeMelon: WE'RE!
VeryRipeMelon: NOT!
Da Leader: GTFO!!!!!!
VeryRipeMelon: o.o;
* VeryRipeMelon has left Nakazawa's Harem
Da Leader: I love these girls ..... when they are not here.
Da Leader: ...now, where did I put that YoMikiBlueKittyPanties.avi file....

IRC Chat Fic I by gAK

2008-10-26T19:48:00.002-06:00

* You are chatting in Nakazawa's Harem

* MGboobs510 has joined Nakazawa's Harem
* MGboobs510 is now known as Some Maki's! Touch
* MikiNeedsMeat is now known as TouchaTouchaTouchYOU

Some Maki's! Touch : That's so wrong

TouchaTouchaTouchYOU: what
Official Egg-Sitter: that sn combo is fucking awesome
Some Maki's! Touch: Who the hell is that?
TouchaTouchaTouchYOU: XD
Official Egg-Sitter: who the hell do you think it is?
TouchaTouchaTouchYOU: *whispers* Someone's a little bitter today
Some Maki's! Touch: About what?
Official Egg-Sitter: about finally getting away from those damn kids only to get shoved back in charge of a bunch of n00bs
Official Egg-Sitter: I mean what the hell part of "solo" career do these people not understand?
* GOD kicked Official Egg-Sitter out of Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: Only I can be bitter in here
GOD: Whiny brat.
* Official Egg-Sitter has joined Nakazawa's Harem
*Official Egg-Sitter rolls her eyes
* Official Egg-Sitter is now known as Peppy Perky Hitomi
Peppy Perky Hitomi: better?
GOD: Much.
* Leader No.6 has joined Nakazawa's Harem
Leader No.6: Hey guys
* Peppy Perky Hitomi is now known as Leader No.4
* TouchaTouchaTouchYOU is now known as Leader No.5
* GOD is now known as THE Leader
Leader No.6: -.- Do you have to do that every time I come in here?
Leader No.5: Yes
Leader No.4: yes
Leader No.5: XD
Leader No.4: don't copy me
Leader No.5: Don't flatter yourself, blondie. Who do you think I am, Makoto?
THE Leader: Ok, I'm too hung over for this. Change back.
Leader No.5: You?! Hung over?! NEVER!
* THE Leader kicked Leader No.5 out of Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: I may be a drunk, but I'm a drunk in charge.
Leader No.4: omgah, no one say anything. this'll be funny.
* Leader No.4 is now known as DoubleRainbow
Leader No.6: Isn't that Aya's nick?
* THE Leader is now known as GOD
GOD: SHUSH
* Leader No.5 has joined Nakazawa's Harem
* Leader No.5 is now known as TheGroper
TheGroper: Where'd No.4 go?
GOD: Probably to go pimp some unsuspecting egg
TheGroper: XD
DoubleRainbow: Tan, I need to talk to you
TheGroper: Oh, hey, I didn't know you were home yet.
DoubleRainbow: I was thinking about this the whole way home
TheGroper: What's wrong?
Some Maki's! Touch: Hey, what did I miss?
DoubleRainbow: I love you
Some Maki's! Touch: WTF
TheGroper: WHAT!?
DoubleRainbow: I've been trying to tell you for so long, but I could never get the words out.
TheGroper: WHAT!?!!
* SingleRainbow has joined Nakazawa's Harem
SingleRainbow: Ok, the weirdest thing happened! It just told me someone was using my album name already.
DoubleRainbow: ohshit.
* DoubleRainbow has quit Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: BUSTED! XD
TheGroper: Oh, she is SO dead.
SingleRainbow: ??
* SingleRainbow is now known as DoubleRainbow
TheGroper: I think it's time for a new nick
DoubleRainbow: Oh, ok
* DoubleRainbow is now known as TheGreatAya
* TheGroper is now known as AndMiki
TheGreatAya: Better?
AndMiki: Much!
* Leader No.4 has joined Nakazawa's Harem
Leader No.4: did I miss anything?
AndMiki: You are so dead
Leader No.4: ok who told?
GOD: You just did, dumbass
Leader No.4: Shit.
AndMiki: Your ass is mine, Yoshizawa.
Leader No.4: ...really?
AndMiki: Perv
Leader No.4: XD this coming from you
AndMiki: So true XD
GOD: I don't know how the hell that group stayed afloat under you two
* Some Maki's! Touch is now known as Boobs Don't Lie
Leader No.4: MAKIRA MAKIRA!
AndMiki: I never knew that they could bounce like this....
* Leader No.6 has quit Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: You guys are so gross sometimes
GOD: Time?
Leader No,4: 10 minutes, 23 seconds
AndMiki: I think that's a new record for perving her out
Leader No.4: yeah, I thought the love confession might help, but no luck
GOD: Yeah, that is a new record
Leader No.4: good job makira
AndMiki: Good boob job, Makira
Boobs Don't Lie: It's not a boob job!
TheGreatAya: Oh, that reminds me, Yossy. Your "wife" was looking for you earlier
Leader No.4: ayaka?
TheGreatAya: No
Leader No.4: mai?
TheGreatAya: ...no
Leader No.4: oh! rika?
TheGreatAya: ...yes
GOD: For crying out loud, woman, how many wives do you have?
* Leader No.4 is now known as ThePimp
AndMiki: XD
ThePimp: what'd she want?
TheGreatAya: I don't know. Something "personal"
Boobs Don't Lie: OMG YOU KNOCKED UP RIKA
ThePimp: WHAT!?
GOD: So THAT's why you never wear bikini's...
ThePimp: oh my gah
TheGreatAya: Wait, what!?
AndMiki: The Adam's apple, the mannerisms, the lack of bikini shots... it all makes sense now
ThePimp: don't start
ThePimp: you of all people know I'm not a dude
Boobs Don't Lie: Ohoho?
ThePimp: and I don't remember you complaining
*AndMiki cackles
TheGreatAya: Oh, yeah, I remember that. She wouldn't shut up about it
ThePimp: OH REALLY
AndMiki: ...
TheGreatAya: Oh, brb, my phone's ringing
GOD: This was when you were leader, right?
ThePimp: uh yeah
GOD: Good girl
ThePimp: XD
Boobs Don't Lie: Wait, you seriously nailed Fujimoto?
ThePimp: of course
Boobs Don't Lie: Mr Moonlight really messed with your head, didn't it?
ThePimp: lol
TheGreatAya: so, uh..
ThePimp: wb
TheGreatAya: Thanks. I was remember wrong. Tan never
Boobs Don't Lie: ...?
Boobs Don't Lie: Aya?
ThePimp: wtf, aya, did you die?
TheGreatAya: Tan only mentioned it once.
ThePimp: miki's on the phone with you, huh?
TheGreatAya: I cannot comment for my own security
AndMiki: MATSUURA AYA, YOU SUCK
ThePimp: really? she should call me sometime.
GOD: Oh, so Miki and Aya did it too?
ThePimp: XD
Boobs Don't Lie: Point, Yuuchan
* GOD kicked Boobs Don't Lie out of Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: In here I am GOD
* Boobs Don't Lie has joined Nakazawa's Harem
* Boobs Don't Lie has quit Nakazawa's Harem
ThePimp: wtf
* AndMiki is now known as Boogie Train '07
* TheGreatAya is now known as Egao
ThePimp: you guys and your damn single titles
ThePimp: ....
* ThePimp is now known as YES
Boogie Train '07 XD
* Boogie Train '07 is now known as Nude
Egao: I don't get it
YES: really?
Nude: What about now?
Egao: -.-
YES: oh shit rika's here.
Nude: WHEN'S SHE DUE?
YES: shut up
YES: now she wants to know what you're talking about
YES: thanks
* Boobs Don't Lie has joined Nakazawa's Harem
Boobs Don't Lie: Dammit, I closed the window by mistake
Nude: Good going
Boobs Don't Lie: what's with that name
Egao: They think it's funny
Boobs Don't Lie: what's funny?
Egao: Wait for it.....
Egao: ....
Nude: Yoshizawa, come ON!
Egao: Geez, what's she doing over there?
* YES has quit Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: naked girl. bye.
Nude: LMFAO
GOD: Ok, I gotta sleep this off. Everyone out.
* GOD has kicked Egao from Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: Too much smiling
* GOD has kicked Nude from Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: Too much groping
* GOD has kicked Boobs Don't Lie from Nakazawa's Harem - Reason: Too much silicon

* You have quit Nakazawa's Harem

"memory" - part 33

2008-10-10T15:37:00.001-06:00

AYA - SEPTEMBER 22ND

The setting sun reflected off the windows of the building, blinding me briefly as I stepped out of the cab. I stared up at the tall structure for a moment before striding quickly toward it. This time, I was ready. This time, I wasn't going to be distracted. This time... I had already peed.

Confidently, I knocked on her front door. She opened it almost immediately.

"Hey!" Maki looked surprised to see me. She moved backwards, ushering me into her apartment.

"Hey..." I said quietly. My confidence from a moment ago had suddenly vanished into a pile of nerves. She smiled brightly and led me over to the couch, while her dark eyes studied my face.

"So, what brings you by?" she asked, sitting down next to me. "Have another date planned?"

"Thankfully, no," I laughed. "This is my one free evening without a date this week."

"Is Miki mad at you or does she just have unbelievably bad taste in women?" Maki grinned.

"Sometimes, I'm not sure myself," I laughed sheepishly.

We lapsed into silence.

"Um," I finally said.

"Yeah?"

"... about... yesterday..." I said carefully.

"What about it?" she gazed intently at me.

"Well... I mean..." I sighed. "You kissed me."

"Yes," she replied calmly. I was taken aback.

"...'yes'? That's it?"

"Did you expect me to deny it?" she laughed.

"Well, no, but.."

"Or apologize? That's one of the only things I've done lately that I haven't regretted," she sighed heavily and looked away.

"Maki..."

"...I am sorry if that made you uncomfortable, though. I never - "

"It didn't," I interrupted. She turned back to look at me. I blushed a bit in spite of myself. "Maki, I..."

"Aya, I think I - " A loud pounding on the door startled us both, making us jump. "Who the hell is that!?" Maki demanded, stalking over to the door. She peered through the peephole. "What the..." She turned back to me. "Do you have any idea why half of Hello! Project is outside my door!?"

"What!?"

"GOCCHIIIN! OPEN UP! I HAVE BOOZE!" I heard Nakazawa bellow as she pounded rhythmically on the door. Maki groaned.

"Do you ever get the feeling there's someone who gets a sadistic pleasure out of messing with our lives?" I asked, glaring up at the ceiling.

"You have no idea," Maki replied, wrenching the door open.

part 32

part 34

For those who don't know...

2008-10-10T15:36:00.004-06:00

Here's what's happened in the past 3 months (in order)

- I moved 1500 miles away
- I was forced to have dial up internet
- My computer died
- I bought a laptop
- My girlfriend came to visit (hi honey <3)
- I was finally able to access my old hard drive
- I was "gently reminded" by said girlfriend to post a new chapter

Just keeping y'all updated.

"memory" - part 32

2008-07-26T22:04:00.002-06:00

AYA - SEPTEMBER 21ST

I had made it all the way to the street when it started to rain. Hard.

And I needed to pee.

Badly.

I groaned and spun on my heel, turning around and heading back inside. Her door was still unlocked.

"Maki?" I glanced around the empty apartment. I quietly shut the door behind me and cautiously began walking inside. Ah! There she was, on the balcony.

I started to call out to her, but a gut feeling inside stopped me. Silently, I walked towards the sliding glass door.

She stood there silently, a cigarette dangling between her fingers as she gazed out into the night. Her eyes searching the dark cityscape for answers as she slowly took a long drag.

She exhaled. The smoke drifted up into the night, mixing with the falling rain. It was then that I noticed the tears falling unheeded down her face.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the handle of the door. She looked over and met my eye and turned to gaze back into the rain.

I opened the door, stepping out into the cool night. The sound of the falling rain was all around me. I walked up to her and gently laid my hand upon hers as it rest upon the railing.

"You came back," she said quietly, stubbing her cigarette out.

"Maki..."

"Did you need something?" she asked casually, pulling her hand out of my grasp to roughly brush the tears away.

"What's wrong?" My eyes searched hers for answers, but she turned her face away from me.

"Nothing." I reached out and grabbed her chin, turning her to face me. I struggled not to flinch at the raw pain in her eyes.

"Don't lie to me," I said quietly.

"I can't tell you," she sighed.

"I thought we were close... well, lately at least... and - "

"And that's why you are the one person I don't want to know."

We both fell silent and I released my grasp on her face. I looked out into the rain.

"I would like it if you felt you could tell me anything, but... I understand if you don't trust me like that, I mean - "

"I trust you," Maki interrupted me. "It's not about that... I just..."

"We've been in similar situations, you and I... Our lives are barely our own and, well... I just feel as though you understand me and maybe I understand you... I know you're a good person and - "

"I'm not," she practically spat out. "I'm not a good person. I make myself sick sometimes."

"What...?"

"I can't stop thinking about it lately. It's over and done, but I can't understand why I did what I've done... I just..." she turned her back to me and looked up at the balcony above hers. Without saying a word, without even quite knowing what I was doing, I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. She leaned back into me and started to cry again.

I somehow managed to get her inside and onto the couch with me before she completely collapsed. It was strange how she cried... she wasn't sobbing... she just seemed broken, tired, uncaring of the tears streaming down her face... She sat there, leaning against me like she had no strength left, letting me hold her, comfort her.

And then she began to speak. The words flowed from her lips like they couldn't escape fast enough, like they had been aching to get out.

She told me everything... their beginning... their end... ...and what really happened that night... the night that almost destroyed my best friend's entire world... Everything she'd been keeping inside all of those years, all of those burdens she'd been shouldering alone...

I struggled with myself, trying not to express my shock, my disbelief, my pity for her... I knew that wasn't what she needed at that moment... So, I did all I could do. I held her, rubbed her back, rested my cheek against her shoulder, comforting her as best I could.

Finally the words just ran out, and she fell silent. Slowly, she got up from the couch, pulling herself out of my embrace.

"..I'm s-"

"Don't say it," I cut her off, standing up to face her. She stared at me, her eyes, still so red from crying, but not revealing a thing. "After everything you've done for me... it's the least I can do..."

"I..." she trailed off, sighing heavily.

"Thank you."

"For what?" she looked bewildered.

"For trusting me this much... I... I wish I could help... Say something, anything to make it a bit better... But... I don't know how to help when you're in love - "

"I'm not in love with her anymore," she interrupted quietly.

"...you're not?"

"No."

"Then... since when?" I asked. She turned away from me to look at the clock.

"It's late. You need your rest for work tomorrow."

"But!" I protested as she led me over to the front door.

"I'll be fine. Really." Maki gently pushed my hair out of my eyes. She smiled a little and looked into my eyes. "Thank you." Before I quite knew what was happening, she had cupped my face in her hands and gently kissed my lips.

As I was still trying to grasp what was going on, she pulled away and opened the front door. Confused and disoriented, I walked out into the hallway.

"Good night," she said softly, closing the door behind me. I blinked several times and started down the stairs to the street.

It wasn't until I reached the rain soaked pavement that I realized I had completely forgotten to use her bathroom.

part 31

part 33

"memory" - part 31

2008-05-19T05:21:00.005-06:00

MAKI - AUGUST 20TH, 2007

I'm not sure whose brilliant idea it was in the first place. It might have even been mine, but I had no idea they'd turned into such hard drinkers.

I had gotten a random phone call from a childhood friend and somehow our old group ended up having a little reunion at the bar down the street from my apartment. Now, I've been around some heavy drinkers, but these girls were nuts. It wasn't long until they were completely smashed and I was pretty damn buzzed myself.

Ah, who am I kidding? I was smashed myself, but thanks to Yuuchan's fine example, I'm pretty good at acting normal while drunk.

With the help of the bartender, I managed to get them all into cabs and see them off, lying through my teeth as I promised to do this again sometime. I was just about to wander home to sober up a bit when the bartender called me back inside.

"What?" I asked, walking over to him. "Did I miss one?"

"Not exactly," he said carefully. "I mean, she wasn't part of your group, but I think she's a friend of yours, isn't she?" He gestured over at the figure sitting alone at the far corner of the bar, her hair spilling down in front of her face like a curtain, her long slender fingers absentmindedly playing with the rim of the empty glass in front of her. I recognized her immediately.

"Yocchan?" I said softly, coming up next to her. She jerked her head up and looked at me in confusion for a minute before a look of recognition spread across her face.

"Heeeey, it's Goto Maki. Go-to Ma-ki. Gomaki. Hey, remember when we were penguins? That was awesome," she started laughing a little. I glanced over at the bartender, trying my best to focus through my own haze.

"How much has she had?" I asked him.

"I'm not sure," he replied. "She was already here when my shift started and she's had quite a bit since then." I felt my phone start to vibrate in my pocket. Without even glancing at it, I hit the button to send the call straight to voice mail. I had enough to deal with right now.

"Hey, Yossy, why don't we get you home?" I said quietly, helping her to her feet.

"No. I can't go home.. 'cause she's either there or she's not and I don't want that," she replied darkly. I stared at her blankly, wondering if that didn't make sense because she was drunk or because I was.

"Whatever. I guess we'll go sober up together, then." I grunted a little as the tall Gatas captain leaned heavily against me and started laughing again. Ugh, she absolutely reeked of liquor. As we stumbled out the front door, I felt a familiar hand creeping up my shirt. Of course. "Yocchan..." I sighed.

"HA!" she laughed triumphantly. "I kept telling her it was just a push-up, but she didn't believe me."

"Right, whatever," I muttered, half dragging her laughing, grope-happy, drunk ass down the street.

I was pretty impressed when we got to my apartment. We only had to stop once for her to puke on the way.

As I walked inside, I flicked on the lights and let go of her to lock the door behind us. A loud crash startled me and I physically jumped and whirled around. She had somehow fallen over my coffee table and was now lying on the floor, laughing her ass off. I groaned. I was waaaaaay too drunk to babysit her like this.

"Yocchan?" I called, walking over to her. She stopped laughing and stared at me.

"...Oh, hey!" she exclaimed, like I'd just gotten there. I dragged her into a sitting position. "What's up?"

"You reek," I said flatly. Nothing quite like the stench of spilled alcohol with a slight undertone of vomit. Very after-party chic. Yossy just laughed again. I tried to focus myself and study her face. "Yossy, stand up."

"Okaaaaaaay!" she giggled. She tried to get up and ended up falling over the table again, landing right where she'd started. She stared up at me. "That. was. AWESOME."

"Ok, we need to sober you up a little," I sighed, lugging her to her feet and dragging her into the bathroom.

"Where're we goin'?" she asked, as I propped her up against the wall.

"I'm attempting to make you slightly more coherent so I can go sleep my own buzz off," I sighed, leaning into the shower to turn it on. I held my hand under the water, waiting for it to get warm enough not to shock her system. "Ok..." I said, turning around.

My jaw dropped.

"Yossy, why are you getting naked?!" I exclaimed, unable to tear my eyes away from her lean, muscular form as she stripped down.

"Duh. Shower," she replied, looking at me like I was the crazy one. She reached around and made several unsuccessful attempts to unhook her bra. I started laughing at her predicament.

A tiny voice in the back of my mind started yelling at me "Bad Maki! Very bad! Step away from the naked Yoshizawa," but I was too far gone to listen to it. I walked over to her and, not quite knowing what I was doing, ran my hands up her back and unhooked her bra. She looked into my eyes, her expression unreadable.

I felt the room spin a little around me as I guided her into the shower. She grabbed my hand and pulled me in with her. I put my hand against the wall to steady myself a little and stared at her, standing under the stream of water, her eyes closed. Suddenly, she looked very sad.

She swayed a little and I grabbed her waist to steady her, unconsciously pulling her close to me. She opened her eyes and looked at me.

"Miki left me for Aya," she said quietly before I could even ask. My eyes widened. She looked away. "I just wish I could forget everything. Even just for a moment."

I can blame being drunk. I can blame the steam from the shower. I can blame the water coursing along her naked body. But, it was those words that did it. Her speaking aloud my thoughts from our last close moment together... from what should have been our first time together. Those words seeping into my alcohol-soaked brain. I thought it was a sign that this was meant to be. That this was my chance to fix my mistake from all those years ago.

So I kissed her.

I felt like I was back to that day when I turned my head away from her, that day when I lied and said I wasn't ready, that day I've regretted ever since. But, I knew in the back of my mind that this wasn't good, that I needed to stop this now.

I pulled back and turned my face away from her. She stepped back from me. She stood under the water for a moment, holding her head in her hands. She was breathing heavily.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," I said quietly. The running water filled the silence between us.

"No, I mean..." she said finally. "I just..."

"No, I know, it's ok, I'm - "

"It's not ok," she cut me off bitterly. "Nothing is ok right now. And as screwed up as it is, no matter what she's done, I still love Miki." She sighed and turned the water off.

"I know how that is," I muttered.

"What?" I lifted my head and looked her straight in the eye.

"I know how it is to be in love with someone no matter what has happened between the two of you." She didn't say anything. I sighed and stepped out of the shower.

"You don't mean..."

"You need to sleep," I replied, pulling a towel around myself. "Just grab one of the shirts out of my closet or something. Everything's still in the same place."

"Maki...?"

"I need to cool down, sorry," I said shortly, walking out of the bathroom and shutting the door behind me.

I stripped off my shirt and sat down on my coffee table, soaking wet, wearing only my jeans and a towel draped around my shoulders. I stared into the darkness of my living room, the only light coming from the street lamps outside.

As soon as I heard the door to my bedroom shut, I walked back into the bathroom and systematically cleaned up, putting the clothes into the hamper, hanging up the towels. I glanced up at the mirror.

"I'm sorry."

I stared at the words scrawled across the foggy glass for a moment before wiping them away with my hand. I glanced down at the counter and spied my cell phone with the New Message light blinking. I sighed and dialed my voice mail as I walked back into the living room to grab some clothes out of the bag I'd packed for Korea.

"Maki!? It's Miki. I... It's a long story. But, just... I don't know... Please, if you see Yossy, send her home. I need to... It wasn't what she thought. It's all... Just, please send her home... Or at least... just... just tell her I love her." Click.

I hung up the phone and stared numbly into the darkness.

Oh my God.

What had I almost done...

Who in their right mind would take advantage of someone like that?

Even if I was drunk, that's still no excuse...

What kind of person would almost...?

What kind of person have I become...

part 30

part 32

"memory" - part 30

2008-05-15T18:15:00.001-06:00

MAKI - SEPTEMBER 17TH

I've been thinking a lot lately about what my career has cost me... or rather... who, I guess... what it's made me become. I mean, who am I outside of my career? What kind of person have I become?

But...

All of those thoughts disappear when I'm onstage, when I'm in that spotlight... When I can feel the music coursing through my veins, my pulse slowing and quickening, matching the beat of the song... When every conscious thought vanishes and leaves behind only raw emotion...

I glanced seductively to one side.

"Aya no uta," I sang before turning my gaze to my left. "Ai no kotoba no kage."

"CUT!" the director's voice cut sharply through the music into my consciousness. I paused mid-motion and glanced down at him. He sighed. "Ok, let's... it's late, so let's just call it a night and try again tomorrow. Perhaps with correct lyrics this time."

My jaw dropped. Correct... what!? One of my backup dancers started giggling. I turned and shot him a look. Dammit, what had I messed up?

"Gocchin! Your phone's going off~!" one of the backup dancers called. "Ohhhhhhhhh!" he giggled. "It's from... Matsuura Aya desu~"

"Gee, thanks, Maeda Ken," I snapped, swiping the phone from him. I flipped it open.... Six new text messages?!

"I guess it makes sense now," I heard someone whisper. I turned around.

"What?" I asked. Two of the dancers glanced at one another.

"Well, Gocchin... I've worked with you for a while now, and, well... you're kind of gone," one of them said finally.

"Gone how?" I raised an eyebrow. She glanced away for a moment.

"That's the fourth time this week you've said 'Aya' instead of 'Ai' in a song..." she said finally. Her companion started laughing.

"I... " I trailed off. Oh my God, I had, hadn't I? I turned red and mumbled an apology before running out of the building.

I raised my arm to hail a cab while I checked my messages from Aya.

"Makira Makira!
Another date tonight. Yay -.-
Maybe you won't have to save me??
...I'll keep you posted.
A"

"M, it's bad.
I'm going to be 30 before she finishes this SENTENCE, much less dinner!
I might need a hand again.
I think Miki hates me lol
A"

"Maki, she's still ordering.... -.-
A"

"Gocchin........ She's STILL ordering!
A"

"M! Save me! She ordered the entire right side of the menu!
I'm never getting out of here alive!
;_;
A"

"Oh my God, it took her ten minutes to eat ONE THING!
ONE!
A"

"Help....
A"

I hit reply as a cab pulled up.

"Where are you?" I texted, opening the door and sliding inside. She replied almost immediately.

"That new restaurant by my apartment.
Thank you <3
A"

I told the driver where to go and sat back in the seat with a slight smile on my face.

"I'll be right there. Don't worry.
M"

part 29

part 31

"memory" - part 29

2008-04-27T09:56:00.002-06:00

YOSSY - SEPTEMBER 15TH

"Ok.... ok..." I wedged my cell between my shoulder and my chin as I unlocked my apartment door. "Absolutely. Rika, I'll see you then, ok?" Miki glanced up from the couch and smiled at me. I flashed a grin back at her. God, she was so beautiful... And that t-shirt she was wearing was so clingy... oh my gah, was that her bra strap peeking out...?!

"Oh! Yocchan! One last thing!" Rika piped up in my ear. I shook my head to clear the thoughts out of my frustrated hormone-soaked brain.

"Yes?"

"What's this I hear about you grabbing Shiba's ass during rehearsal? Are you not getting enough at home or something?" I could hear the grin in Rika's voice. How the hell did everyone find out about that damn bet anyway?!

"Oh, you know perfectly well I'm not!" I retorted, angrily snapping my phone shut. Miki turned off the TV and walked over to me.

"You're not what?" she asked, smiling up at me and giving me a quick kiss.

"Letting you get away with just that," I whispered, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against me, capturing her lips with mine. Miki tangled her fingers in my hair and pushed us back against the closed front door. I ran my hands up along her back, sneaking under that pesky cotton fabric to touch her smooth skin. God, she felt so good...

"Yocchan..." Miki moaned as I began kissing her neck. I slyly reached my hands up and unhooked her bra. "Yossy!" she pushed herself away and looked at me. "Bet!" she scolded.

"Bed sounds wonderful," I replied in a low voice, running my index finger slowly along her collarbone.

"BET, YOSHIZAWA! BETTTTTTTT!" she leapt back from my touch, her hands in the air like she was afraid they would take control of her body and start grabbing my ass without her permission.

"You're killing me here, Fujimoto," I groaned and leaned back against the door.

"She said I was sex obsessed!" she complained, staring at me as though she could tear the clothes off of my body with her eyes.

"So!? Let it go!"

"No! Then Aya wins!"

"Ok, you know what? It's me. I'm the sex obsessed one. I will call Aya right now, ok? And tell her the bet's off because I can't take it anymore. You are a perfect virtuous angel and I, the lust-crazed devilish girl that I am, cannot stand this and must ravage you."

"She'd still win."

"Why do you have to be so damn competitive!?" I complained.

"Yocchan, you know why I'm doing this!"

"Because you're insane?"

"Yossy........" she groaned, flopping down on the couch. I sighed and walked over to her.

"I'm serious. And, just so we're clear, I am NOT spying on your insane dating game rejects anymore" I declared, sitting down next to her.

"Aw, but you had fun!" she protested, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"Yui demanded they compare bra sizes and started to take her shirt off!" I exclaimed.

"AND YOU STOPPED HER!?" Miki sat up and glared at me. I stared at my perfect virtuous angel for a moment.

"No. Maki did," I said finally.

"Oh, really."

"Yes, really. She swooped in out of nowhere with some story about rehearsals and needing her coat back from Aya... I have no idea," I shrugged.

"hmm..." Miki leaned against me thoughtfully. "Who do you think would have won?"

"Huh?"

"Yui vs Aya... who do you think would have won?"

"What?" I started laughing. "I don't know! You're the groper."

"True..." she mused. "You know..." With a shock, I realized her hand had traveled under my shirt during our conversation and she was now demonstrating her groping skills.

"M-miki!"

"I was thinking," she practically purred, pushing herself against me until I was flat on the couch.

"Miki, this is mean," I groaned.

"Just because I can't get laid doesn't mean you can't..." she brushed her lips across mine as she spoke.

"Oh God... wait, Miki are you... oh... I mean, are you crazy? That's going to make you..." Miki pulled back and looked deep into my eyes.

"This is my mess, not yours. You shouldn't have to suffer because of me."

"But - " She silenced my protest with a kiss.

"But nothing. I love you," she smiled. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back.

"I love you too," I murmured.

part 28

part 30

"memory" - part 28

2008-04-13T16:10:00.002-06:00

MAKI - DECEMBER 2006

I threw my bags on the floor and walked swiftly over to my kitchen. I quickly gulped down a glass of water and hit play on my answering machine.

"Makiiiiii, it's Matsuura Aya~! I just realized I went home with the jacket I borrowed from you during rehearsals! It's your turn to take everyone out for drunken karaoke anyway, so I'll bring it to you when you pay up! Bye~!" >CLICK<

I laughed and went to rinse out my glass. Man, that girl was odd. The sudden knock on my front door startled me a bit and I almost dropped the glass on the floor.

"Just a minute!" I called out, turning off the water and setting the glass on the rack to dry. I brushed my hands off on my jeans and walked over to the door, peering through the peephole.

You could have pushed me over with a feather.

"Hey," I said, opening the door. Whoa. Yocchan looked like hell.

"Hey," she said quietly. "Can I come in?"

"Uh, sure!" I opened the door for her. "Excuse the mess. I just got back from a photoshoot," I explained, knowing what a neat freak she can be. She nodded, but I'm still not sure if she really heard what I said. She seemed to be in a daze. Suddenly, she started smiling a little. "Yeah, it's been a while since you've been here, huh?" I laughed awkwardly. She nodded again. Ugh, enough of this. "So, what's wrong?"

Yossy turned and looked at me, completely stunned. Did she really think she was that unreadable?

"Please," I laughed. "You haven't changed THAT much!" She smiled a little and looked down at her feet for a moment.

"I'm graduating in May." My eyes widened. What? Last I heard they were planning on having the next graduation be...

Oh, no. Oh, no, not again.

"Wow, that's weird," I said slowly. "I didn't expect them to graduate you already." I studied her face carefully.

"Yeah, me either," she said quietly. I bit my lip, wondering how to go about this.

"Are you seeing someone?" I asked finally.

"Oh! I'm not trying to - I mean, the reason I came here wasn't to rekindle anything or - " she stammered.

"I know that!" I laughed a bit too loudly. "I just ask because that's part of why they graduated me."

"...what?" She looked like I'd just slapped her.

"Oh, yeah, I guess I never did tell you that. My graduation wasn't supposed to be for another year or so, but somehow they found out about us and, well, sped it up," I shrugged nonchalantly. Her eyes bore into me, her expression unreadable.

"You should have told me."

"Yeah, there are a lot of things I should have done," I said bitterly with a shrug, plopping down on my couch. "It wouldn't have changed anything anyway."

"What should you have done?" she asked, sitting down next to me.

"What do you mean?"

"I just... you screwed up. We both know that. But... I don't know what to do. So, what should you have done? What should I do?" Yossy sighed and ran her hand through her hair.

I sat there for a moment, dumbfounded. After all these years of asking myself that question, I never thought she would ask me it. A tiny voice in the back of my mind piped up, telling me to have Yossy break it off, that way we could finally be together.

I promptly told that little voice to shut the hell up.

"Just tell her," I said finally. "Knowing you, you'll probably try to ease into it, but... just tell her." I laughed a little. "With Miki the way she is, she'll tell you exactly what she thinks. If she wants to work through it or break up or whatever, she'll tell you immediately. I can't really see her giving you up that easily, anyway." She tilted her head.

"Who told you it was Miki?" Crap.

"You can be really dense sometimes, you know that?" I covered smoothly. "Miki's not exactly subtle. She's been staring at you since she got here. Sometimes you couldn't even hold a conversation with that girl when you were in the room."

"Damn, I must have been better than I thought," she muttered. I blinked.

"What?"

"Nothing." She shook her head and sighed. "Just tell her, huh? Do you have any idea how hard that'll be?"

"Just an inkling," I replied sarcastically. She wrinkled up her nose.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. It's ancient history," I lied. "But, uh... you know, if you two do break up, feel free to call me." I grinned flirtatiously.

"Thanks. That means a..." she trailed off as she looked up and met my eye. "You, uh, you don't mean to talk."

"Well, I'm sure some talking would be involved," I replied in a low voice.

"That's it, I'm leaving." She stood up so fast, I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm just teasing you!" I protested, getting up. "Well, mostly." Yossy threw her hands up in exasperation.

"What is it with people lately? Aya's all but propositioning me every time we meet, Sayumi's hanging all over me calling me her prince, I can't even get onstage without being molested by someone, and I'm pretty damn sure that Takahashi grabbed my ass on purpose during filming the other day." She looked so annoyed.

"Hmm, let's see. You're charming, you're funny, you're a huge flirt, your job requires you to wear skimpy outfits and gyrate around a stage, and, oh yeah, you're infinitely doable."

"'Infinitely doable'?" she repeated incredulously. I touched my chin and looked up thoughtfully.

"Would 'bangable' have been a better word choice?" I asked, walking her to the door. She started laughing.

"We always have the strangest conversations," she commented.

"That's for damn sure." I paused. "Seriously, though, just tell her. If it's meant to be, it'll all work out." And if not...

"Thanks." I opened the door for her.

"No problem." I grinned and smacked her on the ass. "Now go, my flittering pimp, go!" I slammed the door shut and leaned against it.

That's it. I'm done.

I'm sick of this cycle. I'm sick and tired of wanting to be with her, thinking I have a chance, then getting my hopes crushed. I can't take it anymore.

So, I'm done. Goto Maki is done with love. Finished. Over. No more.

I looked around my apartment and suddenly felt very claustrophobic. I had to get out, I had to get away from anything that reminded me of her at all.

I grabbed my cell phone and hurried out the front door. She picked up on the third ring.

"Aya? Hi, it's Goto Maki... Are you busy? I thought I'd come pick up that jacket..."

part 27

part 29

"memory" - part 27

2008-03-30T07:07:00.001-06:00

MIKI - SEPTEMBER 8TH

"I miss you too," I murmured into the phone. "Only a few more days, ok?"

"FUJIMOTO!" Aya bellowed before slamming my hotel room door open and stomping in, flames practically spewing from her eyes.

"Honey, I gotta go. Aya has a bug up her ass about something again.... ok, I love you too.... bye." I calmly hung up the phone and raised an eyebrow. "May I help you with something, Ms Matsuura?"

"I ran into Yasuda Kei at the bar last night," she replied through gritted teeth.

"Oh, me too! Isn't it funny how she's on vacation in Hawaii at the same time we're here?"

"Hilarious. Now tell me why exactly she thought it was okay to HIT ON ME?!"

"Calm down, Ayaya, you're turning a weird purple color," I replied.

"MIKI!" Aya all but screamed.

"Ok, ok, ok," I sighed dramatically. "I might have possibly, maybe, once mentioned in passing to Kei that you were single and actively looking."

"MIKI!"

"What!? You ARE actively looking!"

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be trapped in a neverending conversation with Yasuda Kei? I never would have gotten out of there if Maki hadn't happened to call me!"

"Wait. Why did Goto Maki call you? What on earth did you two have to talk about?" I asked suspiciously.

"That's beside the point! God, Miki, I'm only actively looking in your insane sex-obsessed brain! There is nothing wrong with being single! NOTHING WRONG. Do you understand that?! I have no problem with it! I am happy in my life right now! I only went out on that first creepy date to shut you up! And I'm not doing it again. Understand!?" Aya glared at me expectantly.

"...you think I'm sex-obsessed?" I said dumbly.

"Is that all you got out of what I just said!?" Aya groaned and flopped face-first onto the bed next to me.

"Pretty much," I replied, flipping around to lie next to her. She turned her head and looked at me.

"Yes, I think you're kind of obsessed with sex," Aya admitted.

"What!? Why?"

"Are you kidding me?" Aya started laughing.

"Don't laugh so much. It's making the bed shake."

"Sorry," she apologized.

"You were saying?"

"Ok, you used to be obsessed with kissing any woman who walked by."

"I did not!" I protested.

"And once you started sleeping with a certain tomboy - "

"A certain sexy as hell tomboy with a body to die for," I interjected.

"Sleeping with a certain sexy as hell tomboy with a body to die for, terribly sorry, you could not get enough of it."

"There's nothing wrong with - "

"AND!" she continued, glaring at me for daring to interrupt. "You can't keep your hands off ANYONE. You grabbed my ass just this morning!"

"That - "

"AND!!! A few months later, you start harassing me about why I'm not having sex. And now that you're not working, getting me laid seems to be your new life mission!"

"...are you done?" I asked.

"For now."

"Ok, I just don't want another glare. Only I can glare." Aya rolled her eyes. "First of all, yes, we did have sex quite a bit, especially at the beginning. Five years of foreplay will do that to you!"

"Oh, please," Aya rolled her eyes.

"AND!" I continued, glaring at her for daring to interrupt. "I was just worried about you! I had found happiness and I wanted my bestest friend to find it too!"

"What about the groping?"

"What can I say. It's what I do," I shrugged.

"Miki, you are obsessed with sex and can barely go a week without it. You only think I need to get laid because you can't stop thinking about it yourself and can't imagine not being able to go at it whenever you please."

"What!?" I stood up and crossed my arms. "That's not true!" Aya flipped over onto her back and laughed.

"Yes. It is."

"No. It's not." I glared at her. She stood up and poked my shoulder.

"Fine. Prove me wrong. You don't get laid until I do."

"What?! But that could be months!" I protested.

"Well, if you want to just admit I'm right..."

"FINE!" I snapped, turning away from her and stalking over to the window.

"Well - "

"BUT!" I whirled back around.

"But?"

"YOU have to go out on every date I set you up on," I challenged. She narrowed her eyes.

"Fine."

"Fine!"

We glared at each other for another minute.

"Well... what do you want for dinner?!" she snapped.

"How about that nice steak restaurant the lady at check-in recommended?" I snapped back.

"Sounds great! I'll see you in 10 minutes." she glared.

"Good!" I glared back at her. She turned and walked away.

"Oh, Mikitty?" she paused by the door and looked at me over her shoulder.

"What?"

"No hard feelings, right?"

"Between us? Never!" I laughed.

"Good. Apologize to Yossy for me," she smiled brilliantly and walked out of my room.

"...Yossy?" I looked over at my abandoned cell phone lying on the bed. "Oh, shit."

part 26

part 28

"memory" - part 26

2008-03-08T17:46:00.001-07:00

YOSSY - SEPTEMBER 5TH

"Oh, come ON, you little piece of..." Miki's mumbled threat was my only warning. I glanced up from my script just in time to be smacked across the face by a navy blue bikini top.

"Miki, what the hell?" I exclaimed, grabbing the wayward swimsuit piece off of my face and throwing it at my giggling girlfriend.

"I'm sorry! The strap got caught in the drawer!" she laughed, neatly catching the top in her hand and tossing it in the open suitcase by her feet. "It's not my fault it attacked you when I finally pulled it free!"

"And you couldn't open the drawer like a normal person?" I asked with a grin.

"And you can't study your script at a table like a normal person?" she countered, turning back to look at her side of the closet. I sat up from leaning against the pillows on our bed and placed my glasses on the bedside table.

"Can I help it if I like watching your ass?" I asked innocently, rolling onto my stomach and propping myself up on my elbows.

"No, I suppose not," she replied, shaking her butt.

"Hey, Miki?" I said quietly. She turned around, her concerned eyes searching mine.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to miss you."

"Yocchan..." she sighed and squatted down in front of me, leaning her chin on the edge of the mattress. "You promised..."

"I knoooow," I whined, reaching out and touching her face. "But... I will."

"Excuse me, but, who trotted off to Spain to declare her love for a soccer player?" Miki demanded, raising an eyebrow.

"I knoooow."

"So, don't make me feel guilty for this, ok? You know I'm going to miss you just as much."

"Hmm..."

"'Hmm'?" she repeated, blinking several times.

"I'm just wondering..." I trailed off, looking away.

"Wondering what exactly?" Miki asked, a look of annoyance beginning to color her features. I pushed off on my elbows and tackled my girlfriend to the ground as she shrieked with laughter.

"I was just wondering if I should give you something to miss," I grinned.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. Really." I leaned down to kiss her.

Just then someone knocked loudly our front door. I collapsed groaning onto her, burying my face into her hair.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Miki muttered. I sighed, pushed myself off of her, and stood up, reaching my hand down to help her up.

"We're coming!" I shouted as our guest knocked again.

"Apparently not," Miki muttered, giving me a kiss on the cheek as she wrenched the door open. "What!?" she demanded.

"Where's your cell phone?" Aya snapped, brushing past Miki and marching into our apartment. "Oh, hey, Yossy."

"Uh, hi, Aya..." I replied, looking bewildered as she started rummaging through Miki's purse.

"Aya, what the hell?" Miki exclaimed as Aya pulled the phone out and flipped it open.

"I KNEW IT!" Aya yelled, snapping the phone shut and stalking back over to Miki. "So you get off the phone with me and immediately call a certain Nakazawa who then demands that a certain Goto Maki hit on me?"

"You did what!?" I turned to see Miki avoiding my eye. "Mikiiiii"

"Ok, fine! I'm just trying to get you laid, ok?" Miki sighed. "But, I didn't know she was there with freaking Maki. Ugh."

"...what's wrong with Maki?" Aya asked in an odd voice.

"She got my poor drunk Yocchan naked!" Miki snapped. "Not to mention she slapped me once."

"Miki! It was completely innocent!" I groaned. "I thought we'd gone over this already..."

"We have, but she asked," Miki shrugged.

"That was completely out of line," Aya stated, ignoring the two of us. She shoved the phone at Miki. "Setting me up on dates is one thing. Using innocent people as your pawns is another."

"I wouldn't call Maki innocent," Miki muttered. "Not after the way she treated Yo - "

"Miki!" I glared at her.

"Sorry."

"I don't know what you guys are talking about, but... Miki, don't you ever pull that again, ok?"

"Ok," Miki sighed.

"Ok?!" Aya repeated.

"Ok!!" Miki glared at Aya.

"Good," Aya sighed. "Now, give me a damn hug so I can stop being so pissed and get back to packing!" They both started laughing and hugged.

I just stood there, once again in awe of how truly strange their friendship was. I watched them pull apart and smile. Miki opened the door for Aya and playfully smacked the soloist's butt. She shut the front door and leaned against it.

"I am so good," she grinned. I laughed and shook my head a little, walking towards her.

"That you are," I admitted. She reached out and grabbed my collar, pulling me towards her.

"I am what?" she asked coyly, running her fingers up along the lapel of my shirt before begriming to slowly unbutton it.

"You are..." Coherent thoughts left my brain as she pressed her lips to my neck.

"I'm what?" she murmured into my skin as she began a slow path downwards.

"Absolutely. Fantastic."

part 25

part 27

"memory" - part 25

2008-03-02T07:57:00.002-07:00

MAKI - SEPTEMBER 5TH

You don't get to where I am without learning a few things. Like never mention the word "album" around Maeda Yuki. And if you walk into a bar and see Yasuda Kei sitting alone at a table, turn around and walk right out or you'll never escape.

Oh! And never ever call Saitou Hitomi dowdy... too bad Miyoshi Chinatsu had to learn that the hard way...

But most importantly, if you walk into a room and Nakazawa Yuko grins and waves you over, you're screwed.

I sighed and resigned myself to my fate.

"Nakazawa! What a nice surprise!" I lied through my grinning teeth as I walked over and sat down across the table from her.

"Don't lie, Maki, you're terrible at it," she replied. "I need to talk to you."

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" I exclaimed, saluting.

"Don't make me hurt you," Nakazawa shot back.

"Sorry."

"Gocchin, I'm afraid I've been thinking,"

"A dangerous pastime," I half-sang.

"I know." Nakazawa paused, realized what we'd just said, and glared at me.

"Sorry," I apologized again.

"You need to get laid."

"What!?" I exclaimed. "Are you drunk!?"

"A little, but that's not the point. The point is that the insane Yossy fiasco made me realize something."

"That Yoshizawa Hitomi has a perverted mind and overactive imagination?" I asked.

"Besides that!" Yuko sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Maki, when's the last time you even kissed someone?" I bit my lip and looked away. "Exactly," Yuko continued. "I mean, there are 17 gay or bi women in Hello! Project! Just pick one!"

"Yuuchan!"

"And that's not even COUNTING the Eggs or any of the jailbait!" she continued. "And I think I know why you can't get a date."

"Oh really."

"You suck at flirting," she said simply.

"What!?" I exclaimed.

"Now don't get defensive! It's true."

"And what, you're going to teach me? Why are you being so nice?" I looked at her suspiciously.

"Because I've had just enough to drink to be pleasant. Now..." she trailed off as her cell phone rang. "Ok, I've got to get this, but YOU are going to flirt with and pick up the next girl that comes in here."

"But - !"

"And you better do it before the pleasantness wears off. Got it?" she snapped before flipping open her cell phone. "Hellooo?" she said sweetly. I glanced around the empty cafeteria, hoping everyone was at some big rehearsal I didn't know about.

The door swung open. My heart skipped a beat.

The sunlight streaming through the hallway windows backlit the curvy figure. Clutching a can of iced tea, she ran her fingers through her short hair and glanced around before striding confidently over to the first table and sitting down. The door swung shut, cutting off the source of fierce afternoon sun, finally giving me a clear look at my apparent target.

I almost fell over in sheer relief.

Winking at Nakazawa, who was now yelling at someone on the phone, I got up from my chair and sauntered over to the other table. She glanced up at me and set her tea down on the table.

"Hey!"

"I need a huge favor," I grinned flirtatiously, sitting down across from the idol's idol.

"Well, I definitely owe you one," Aya smiled back. "What's up?"

"Nakazawa demanded that I pick up the next woman who walked in here," I replied, reaching out and touching her arm. Aya looked down at my hand on her arm and then back up at my smirking lips and pleading eyes.

"Do you always do everything Nakazawa tells you to?" she smiled shyly and looked away.

"When she's being disturbingly nice, yes," I replied, leaning closer. "Thank you so much."

"Yeah, yeah," she looked down at the table before glancing up at me. "So, why is your former leader making you hit on people?"

"Why is your best friend setting you up on blind dates with a barely-legal narcissist?" I retorted, raising an eyebrow. Aya leaned her head back and laughed just as my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I reached down and pulled it out.

"youll need to do better than that
aya likes the charmers
yuko"

I glanced over my shoulder at Nakazawa, who simply raised her mysterious looking "water" bottle at me in a toast.

"What?" Aya asked, trying to grab my phone from me. I whisked it out of her hands, wagged my finger at her playfully, and shoved the phone back in my pocket.

"Yuuchan just told me that I need to try harder because you like charmers," I explained, reaching across the table to tuck a stray piece of hair behind Aya's ear. Aya glanced away and flushed a little. I raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Is there someone I should know about?"

"No!" Aya sighed and shook her head. "God, why won't everyone just leave it the hell alone?"

"What's wrong?" I asked, dropping all pretenses and looking at her in concern.

"Nothing." She wouldn't meet my gaze.

"Oh, don't give me that." I reached out and touched her chin, turning her face back towards me. "What's wrong?"

"I have - had - a stupid little crush on someone. And then Miki, and I guess Nakazawa, found out about it and now everyone's blowing it out of proportion, acting like I'm in love. And I keep telling them it's just a crush and I'll get over it and please stop mentioning it, but..." she sighed.

My mind was whirling. Charmer. Crush. Miki found out instead of being told.

Bingo.

"You got Yossy'd!" I laughed.

"Oh, like you're one to talk," she snapped.

"True," I admitted, leaning back in my chair.

"And you're proof that you CAN get over Ms Yoshizawa, no matter what these crazies think, right?" she continued, rolling her eyes a little.

"When did this happen anyway?" I asked, ignoring the question.

"Oh, last year sometime. When she kissed me."

"When she WHAT?" I sat bolt upright.

"Yossy walked in on me and Miki rehearsing the Melodies kiss and, well..."

"Oh my God, tell me you did not have a threesome with - "

"WHAT!? NO!" Aya looked horrified and amused. "Miki was being an ass about it, so Yossy kissed me right there as revenge."

"Man, they're weird..." I muttered.

"You have no idea. She grabbed me and... It was... well, I probably don't have to tell you." Aya giggled.

"Wait. She didn't Mr Moonlight you, did she?"

"Huh?"

"Come here," I said, standing up. Aya looked a bit confused, but stood up and walked over to me. I grabbed Aya by the waist and pulled her to me before dipping her backwards and leaning into her.

"Um..."

"Did she do this?" I asked, my face only centimeters from hers. Wow, I never noticed she has a mole on her upper lip before...

"Pretty much, yeah," she confirmed, her face turning pink. I set her back upright and shook my head.

"Stealing my moves," I grumbled, flopping back down in my chair.

"What?"

"I used to do that to her as a joke back when she, Abe, and I were vying for the lead in Mr Moonlight," I complained.

"Huh..." Aya shook her head a little.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

"Yeah... sorry, I'm leaving tomorrow, so I'm a little distracted," she replied.

"Leaving? Oh! That's right, your Hawaii thing."

"Yeah... I really need to finish packing, so, I guess I'll talk to you later," Aya stood up to leave.

"But Nakazawa..." I turned around to find the cafeteria empty.

"Oh, she got bored and left when you were in the middle of, uh, Mr Moonlight-ing me," she explained. I laughed sheepishly.

"I'm sorry. Did that make you uncomfortable?" I glanced away. "Sometimes I don't know what gets in to me these days..."

"What? No, not uncomfortable... not at all..." she trailed off thoughtfully. "Oh well. See you around, Maki." She turned and sauntered out.

It might have been my imagination, but I swear she was swinging her hips a little more as she walked. At any rate, I was somehow mesmerized by them. She paused in the door way and turned around.

"Good thing she didn't tell you to sleep with the next girl who came in, huh?" she winked and pushed the door open, blinding me again with the bright sunlight.

"Right, good thing..." I muttered, grabbing her abandoned iced tea off the table and downing it in one gulp.

part 24

part 26

Poll Results!

2008-03-02T07:53:00.002-07:00

What do you like best?

48% - Hot girl-on-girl action (18 votes)
27% - Love-love fluff (10 votes)
21% - Hilarious antics (8 votes)
2% - Angsty emotion (1 vote)

Thanks so much to the 37 people that voted! If you have an idea for a new poll, please let me know!

"memory" - part 24

2008-02-25T18:30:00.001-07:00

MAKI - MARCH 2006

After that, I focused on my career and nothing else. I shut all thoughts of her away from me. I avoided her whenever possible.

Looking back, I don't know what I was thinking. Shoving all of my emotions aside like that... like they didn't matter, like none of it had ever mattered... I had almost convinced even myself.

I guess I was just young and stupid.

We were sitting on the field near each other, waiting for the pep talk to start. She glanced over and caught my eye and smiled. I smiled back before gazing off into the distance.

"Hey," Yossy hissed, scooting over next to me and leaning in conspiratorially.

"What?" I whispered back. She glanced over her shoulder quickly.

"Is it just me or is Kei not wearing any underwear again?" I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. I casually looked over at Kei.

"Oh my God, you're RIGHT!" I hissed.

"Oh my gah, remember when she went commando during that Utaban taping?" Yossy snickered under her breath.

"What?! No!"

"You didn't know about that!? Oh man... that was so wrong. I never wanted to see that much Yasuda." Yossy shuddered a little.

"You DIDN'T!"

"I didn't have any choice! It was RIGHT THERE!" she protested. I just shook my head. We fell into a comfortable silence. "So..."

"Yeah?" I looked over at her.

"How've you been?" She smiled easily. I blinked and had to force myself not to do a double-take. When in the world had she become so beautiful? Yossy'd always been pretty but... well... kind of a pretty boy. Now she looked just... wow.

"Good!" I replied a little louder than I meant to. "Busy! You know how it is..."

"Yeah, I really do," she laughed. "I have a new respect for Kaorin."

"Just her?"

"Well, Nakazawa is already - "

"Yossy, are you STILL scared of her?" I laughed.

"Shut up," she grumbled.

"Seriously! She's a real sweetheart underneath that sharp-tongued exterior," I explained. Yossy laughed softly and looked away from me into the crowd of members. "You okay?"

"Yeah... yeah, I was just thinking of something," she shook her head and grinned. "Never mind."

"OKAY, KIDDIES, LISTEN UP! IT'S TIME FOR THE DAMN SPORTS FESTIVAL, OK?" Nakazawa bellowed. Yossy and I both snapped to attention.

Yuko might be a sweetheart underneath it all, but that doesn't mean she's not damn scary.

I grinned as I walked out of the arena, humming "Suki Sugite Baka Mitai" to myself. I headed through the parking lot, swinging my purse back and forth in time with the tune.

What a great day. My team didn't win, but I had a blast and I hadn't talked to Yossy that much since...

I paused and bit my lip.

I'd missed her. I'd missed talking to her, joking with her, being around her... being with her. But it was too late. I had my chance once and now...

I looked up. Her car was right in front of me.

A slow smile spread across my face. I turned on my heel and walked back towards the building. My footsteps echoed in the deserted halls as I made my way back towards the hopeful light of the locker room.

I cautiously peeked my head around the door.

Yossy was leaning against the lockers. She was already changed, wearing jeans and a ratty old band t-shirt. She glanced down at her watch and then looked straight ahead again.

I started to head inside, but something stopped me. Something seemed a little off...

"Sorry," a voice called from the showers.

"It's about time! Everyone else already left!" Yossy mock-scolded.

"I know," Miki grinned, stepping into my line of sight. Her wet hair was slicked back and she was wearing only a towel as she advanced.

Yossy's eyes traveled lazily over Miki's exposed skin, a slow grin spreading across her face.

"Like what you see?" Miki asked, pushing her body against Yossy's.

"You know I do," Yossy replied in a low voice. Miki laughed and dropped her towel.

I turned and fled.

Did I really think she had just been waiting for me? That her overtures of friendship meant she wanted to be with me again? That a girl like her comes along more than once?

I guess I'm just young and stupid.

part 23

part 25

"memory" - part 23

2008-02-14T11:35:00.002-07:00

AYA - SEPTEMBER 4TH

I groaned and looked down at my watch. Five more minutes. The girl had five more minutes.

"Ma'am, are you ready to order?" I glanced up at the waiter and smiled politely.

"Not just yet," I replied. "My companion's freshening up." He nodded knowingly and vanished back amongst the tables. I sighed and propped my chin up with my right hand. How the hell did Miki talk me into this anyway?

Oh, that's right. She guilt tripped me.

"The poor thing hasn't been out since that horrible break up. And, well... we both know you're not getting any, so I figured..." I could still see Miki's fake-innocent look. Ugh.

"Aya?" I glanced up in surprise at the figure standing next to my table, looking at me curiously.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" I asked. Goto grinned and flopped down in the chair across from me.

"Oh, I was just meeting Yossy down the street to give back her clothes."

"To give... What!?" I stared at her incredulously. Goto started laughing.

"It's not what you think!"

"I hope not! I'm still Mikitty's best friend after all!" I grinned.

"I know that!" she laughed and shook her head. "She puked on her clothes the night she got drunk and - "

"And then ran around like an idiot saying you'd slept together?" I offered.

"Exactly," Goto sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that was fun to deal with when I got home." She leaned conspiratorially across the table towards me. "Did you know your precious Mikitty was lying in wait for me when I got to my apartment?"

"What!?" I exclaimed, leaning in towards her. "How in the world did she get in?"

"She stole my spare keys from Yossy!"

"Oh my God, you're JOKING!" I looked her over. "And you're still walking?"

"She pinned me to the wall with her hand around my neck." My jaw dropped.

"That girl is crazy," I sighed. I glanced around the restaurant and leaned in even closer. "Speaking of that, you'll never guess why I'm here."

"She wants to get Friday'd again?"

"No," I laughed. "Miki set me up on the weirdest date ever."

"Date?!" Maki exclaimed, leaning back in her chair. She grinned. "Hmm... who's the lucky girl?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know," I groaned. I glanced over her shoulder. "Ugh, she's coming back."

"Hmm, guess I'll make myself scarce then," She stood up from her chair and paused thoughtfully. "You know... I don't have anything to do right now, so I think I'll just have a drink."

"Huh?"

"So, if a former Gomattou and Nochiura Natsumi member maybe needs some rescuing from a bad date... she could always send me a secret text message..." Goto winked and sauntered off towards the bar. I grinned after her as my... date came up to me and smiled.

"Sorry I took so long! I just couldn't tear myself away from the mirror!" Michishige flashed me a grin and sat down across from me.

"That's ok," I smiled weakly and sipped my water.

"Where was I? Oh! That's right!" Sayumi took a quick gulp of water. "So, I said to Eri, 'I don't know what you're talking about! JunJun and I are just friends!' and she says to me 'Then why was your hand on her butt after filming?!'. I mean, honestly!" She sighed dramatically. "Then I pointed out that Yoshizawa lets Fujimoto do it all the time and Eri said 'But Sayu, you're not Fujimoto' and I replied 'No, I'm much cuter.'"

"Right," I murmured as I discreetly slipped my phone out of my pocket.

"But you know all about that, Matsuura! You used to be almost as cute as I am!" She smiled sweetly.

"Aya! Thank God!!" Sayumi and I looked up as Goto rushed over to our table. Goto faltered a bit when she caught sight of Sayumi. "Uh... right. Aya, I locked myself out of my apartment. Do you still have my spare key?"

"Your... oh! Yeah! Of course. It's at my place, though." I lied smoothly.

"Oh, great. Can we go get it now? Sorry, but I have an appointment pretty soon..."

"Oh, ok." I turned to Sayumi and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, but duty calls."

"Oh, that's ok. It must be painful to look at someone as cute as me for so long anyway." Goto started coughing loudly as I smiled weakly and stood up. I could hear Sayumi chattering on her cell phone as we made our way out.

"MICHISHIGE!?" Goto practically screamed with laughter as we walked down the street.

"I KNOW!" I exclaimed, cracking up. She threw her arm up to hail a cab. "I don't know what in the world Tan was thinking."

"'I like to grope. Sayu likes to grope. Aya likes me. Aya will like Sayu.'?" Goto guessed as a cab pulled up. I shook my head. She smiled and opened the cab door for me.

"Did you want to share a cab?" I asked.

"Oh, I just live down the street. Have a nice evening, Aya." Goto winked.

"Thanks for rescuing me."

"Anytime," she grinned, shutting the door behind me.

part 22

part 24

"memory" - part 22

2008-01-23T14:50:00.001-07:00

YOSSY - SEPTEMBER 3RD

I jerked awake and glanced around. Miki was sitting up in bed next to me reading a book.

"Did you say something?" I asked.

"Hmm? No, why?" She didn't even glance up from her book. I shook my head.

"Must have just been a dream," I replied. I leaned back onto the pillows and closed my eyes, trying to remember.

"You asleep?" I opened my eyes and looked up at her.

"Nope, why?" Miki grinned and put her book down on the bedside table.

"I was just thinking..." she said slyly, running her hand up my leg.

"Miki, we're sick."

"Not THAT sick," she retorted. I sighed.

"Mikiiii."

"Hitomiiii." I almost fell over in shock at Miki suddenly using my first name. She took advantage of my surprised state and rolled herself on top of me.

"Fujimoto Miki! What are you doing!" a voice snapped from the doorway.

"Busted," Miki muttered, flopping back onto the mattress and pulling the covers up over her head.

"Tan," Aya continued, leaning against the doorway. "If you don't behave, you're sleeping out here on the couch."

"Meh meh meh sleeping on the couch," Miki mocked softly in a high-pitched voice. I coughed to hide my laughter. Aya glared at us.

"Sleep!" she ordered, spinning around and slamming the door behind her. Miki peeked out from under the covers.

"Damn, she needs to get laid," she muttered.

"Miki!" I exclaimed.

"No, seriously. It's been years," she shook her head. I stared at Miki in horror.

"Why? Why did I need to know that? Why!?" I exclaimed. Miki laughed.

"It's true though - she really needs to get out more."

"Mikiii," I sighed and shook my head. She didn't say anything for a few minutes, so I rolled over to go back to sleep. Suddenly, Miki sat bolt upright next to me.

"OH MY GAH!!" she exclaimed. I sat up and looked at her in alarm.

"What!? What's wrong!?" I asked. She turned to me and grabbed my hands in hers.

"We should totally set them up!"

"Set who up? What are you talking about? Did your fever come back?" I debated bellowing for Aya.

"No no no!" Miki started laughing in that evil way she has. She dropped my hands and rubbed hers together with a grin on her face. "We're gonna get my beloved Ayaya laid."

"...Miki, what are you plotting?"

"Hmm?" she said innocently as she reached over to grab her cell phone.

"Mikiiiii... who are you calling?"

"No one~" she sang as she dialed her phone.

"Miki!"

"Shh! It's ringing!.... Hiiii, it's Fujimoto Miki!"

I groaned and flopped back into bed, pulling the covers over my head and resigning myself to my girlfriend's insane plotting.

part 21

part 23

"memory" - part 21

2008-01-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

MIKI - SEPTEMBER 1ST

Love.

It's a wonderful thing. It makes you beautiful, it makes you strong, it makes you giddy, it makes you insane. It distracts you from everything else around you, focusing you on nothing but that one glorious person.

Well, until you wake up with a temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius and your girlfriend is in the bathroom throwing up.

I groaned and rolled into the fetal position, grasping for my phone.

"Hello?"

"Ayaaaaaaaaaaaaaa," I whined. Yossy stumbled out of the bathroom and collapsed into bed next to me. She wrapped her arms around me and laid her burning forehead on my shoulder.

"Tan?"

"Aya, I'm siiiick, come take care of meeee," I complained.

"Don't you have Yossy for that now?" she grumbled.

"She's sick too," I replied. Yossy nodded against my back. "We got some sort of late-summer flu."

"Mikitty, I can come over this afternoon, but I have work right now, ok? I gotta go." she said sympathetically.

"Okaaay, bye." I hung up the phone.

"Well?" Yossy mumbled into my shirt.

"No good. She's..." My eyes widened and I flew out of bed, running for the bathroom.

A few minutes and a good toothbrushing later, I stumbled back into Yossy's waiting arms and collapsed on top of her. She kissed my head and I groaned miserably into her chest.

"Ayaka's on her way over," she mumbled.

"I love her," I replied.

"Seriously."

"...Yocchan?"

"hmm?"

"Does she have keys?"

"Oh, dammit," Yossy groaned. Just then there came a loud knock on the front door.

Neither one of us moved.

"I puked last," I said finally.

"You're on top," she retorted.

"Dammit," I cursed, dragging myself out of bed. "Next time, you're on top, Yoshizawa!" I yelled as I stumbled over to the door and threw it open.

"Good to know." My jaw dropped. "Damn, Fujimoto, you look like hell."

"Honey," I called over my shoulder. "Did you order a dried up old yankee?"

"Huh!?" Yossy replied, sounding extremely tired.

"Funny," Nakazawa said, brushing passed me and sauntering into our living room. I shut the door and turned around to see Yossy stumbling out of the bedroom. She glanced over and saw Nakazawa. I stifled back a laugh as I saw her entire body tense as she immediately straightened up.

"N-nakazawa!" she stammered. "What brings you here?"

"The hell, did the two of you do nothing the past two days but have sex? You need to stop periodically for food and sleep, you know." I started laughing, but that quickly turned into a coughing fit. I miserably shuffled over and leaned my head against Yossy's back.

"We're sick," Yossy replied, reaching back and putting my arms around her waist.

"...Sick?" Nakazawa stepped back a little. "As in.."

"Puking," I supplied helpfully. She raised an eyebrow.

"Right. I'll just be not breathing your air then."

"What are you doing here anyway?" I grumbled into Yossy's shirt. We watched as Nakazawa wandered into our kitchen.

"Can I help you with something, Nakazawa?" Yossy asked. I bit back a laugh at how tense her body still was.

"Don't you have any good sake?" Nakazawa complained, her head inside our fridge.

"I, uh, dumped out all the liquor," Yossy replied sheepishly. "I'm not planning on drinking again for a while."

"Yocchaaaaaan~!" I squealed, squeezing her tightly. I wanted to kiss her so much, but it hurt too much to move.

"Miki, please don't make me puke again," she muttered. I released my grip on her.

"Sorry."

"You... you dumped... you WHAT?!" Nakazawa slammed the fridge door shut and stalked back over to us. "Why? Why would you do that? Why?"

"Oh shit, you made her mad," I whispered to Yossy. Yossy just laughed. It was really strange - the angrier Nakazawa got, the calmer Yossy became.

"Yoshizawa!" Nakazawa barked. "What are the ten commandments of Nakazawa?!" Yossy sighed dramatically.

"There is no other Yuko but Nakazawa Yuko."

"Right!"

"Not a single drop of alcohol shall ever go to waste."

"WHICH YOU BROKE! Next!"

"All hail chicken breasts!" Yossy deadpanned. I started laughing.

"Shut up, Fujimoto! Next!"

"Listen to your Leader."

"And?"

"The only Leader is Nakazawa."

"Good girl."

"What the hell, am I your dog?" Yossy retorted.

"Don't piss me off kid," Nakazawa snapped. "Next." Yossy grinned.

"Mi. Da. Ra-ah~" Yocchan sang. I gave up and just sat on the floor laughing.

"You always did do that line justice. Next!"

"Beer is nourishment," Yossy replied.

"Excellent! And!" Nakazawa all but yelled.

"Sake is too."

"This is insane!" I exclaimed from my spot on the floor.

"This is Nakazawa!" Nakazawa proclaimed. "Number 9, Yoshizawa!"

"Don't mess with my cute little Yaguchi."

"Still true! And finally?"

"Nakazawa knows everything," Yossy finished.

"And don't you forget it!" Nakazawa said triumphantly.

"What are you all doing?" The three of us turned to see Ayaka gaping at us from the doorway.

"Ayaka, fantastic timing," Yossy said. "I was just about to go puke. Excuse me." She stepped around me and swiftly walked into the bathroom, firmly shutting the door behind her.

"And I was just leaving," Nakazawa added. She stepped around the confused Ayaka and waved to me. "Feel better."

"Why did she come by anyway..." I muttered as Ayaka shut the door behind the crazy leader of Hello! Project.

"Miki, why are you on the floor?" Ayaka asked, turning back to me.

"Originally, I was laughing," I explained. "Now I'm too dizzy to move." Ayaka groaned and helped me up off the floor.

"Back to bed with you," she ordered, half carrying me into the bedroom.

"You're such a nice mommy," I grinned.

"Who's a what?" Yossy asked, stumbling out of the bathroom.

"You. Bed. Now," Ayaka ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Yossy said meekly, shuffling over to get into bed.

"Now, you two get some sleep."

"SUCH A NICE MOMMY!" I squealed. Yossy giggled. Ayaka ignored me.

"And if I hear anything that so much resembles anything pervy, one of you is sleeping on the couch, got it?"

"YES, MOMMY!" we exclaimed in unison.

"I'm going to pretend you're both just feverish and ignore that," Ayaka stated before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind her.

Yossy wrapped her arms around me and rested her lips on my shoulder.

"That was kinda fun, but I feel like crap," she muttered into my skin.

"I know," I sighed.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Kabutomushi."

part 20

part 22

Poll Results!

2008-01-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

Poll Results!

Who is your favorite narrator?
25 votes - Miki (54%)
15 votes - Yossy (32%)
3 votes - Aya (6%)
2 votes - Rika (4%)
1 vote - Ayaka (2%)

Still alive, honest.

2008-01-08T04:56:00.000-07:00

Nihao. XD

Yeah, I'm still alive. Sorry, I've had a lot of personal stuff going on lately - surprisingly, all good! <3

I have 21 done, but I want to get a little more work done on the series before posting it. Lately, I've noticed I've been posting chapters too fast and I really need to wait so I can make sure that IS where I want to go with the fic. blah.

^^;;

"memory" - part 20

2007-12-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

MAKI - JULY 2002

I still remember that meeting.

To this day, I can still feel the draft coming in from the window on the left side, see the fluorescent light bulb trying to flicker back to life in the corner, hear the words echoing in my head.

"Unacceptable"

"A bad example for the younger members"

"Must stop immediately"

"Graduation"

I can still feel myself smiling politely, nodding, apologizing. I walked out of the room and told no one.

I'm still not sure why. Maybe a small part of me thought that if I didn't say anything, it wouldn't really happen. Maybe I just wanted to pretend for a little bit longer that nothing would change. Maybe I was just a coward.

We managed to meet up a week or so later at my place. I said nothing, choosing instead to lose myself in her kisses. I wanted to forget everything else. I just wanted to forget everything. Even just for a moment. I wanted nothing else to matter but the two of us in that moment. I didn't even notice she was being more aggressive than normal until I felt her hand slip into my jeans and her fingers gently slide along under the waistband of my panties. I stiffened in surprise and pulled away from her.

"Yossy?"

"I want you," she said quietly, her eyes dark and serious. My cheeks began to burn and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. She leaned down and kissed me again. My mind racing, I gently pushed her away and sat up.

"Yocchan, I... " I looked away from her so she couldn't see my face. "I don't think I'm ready yet," I lied. I was ready. I wanted her so badly it hurt. But... if I had her like that, if I was able to be with her like that... I'd never be able to let go.

I'm still not sure if it's the smartest or stupidest thing I've ever done.

"Ah well, it was worth a try," she laughed. I looked up and she grinned at me. Shit. I had to tell her. Right now. "So, what do you want to do then? Movie?"

"We can still make out," I laughed, trying to stall as I mustered up the courage.

"Mmm, yeah, not a good idea right now," she replied. "I'd probably jump you, so... movie?" Her eyes sparkled as she smiled sheepishly at me. I lost my nerve and just nodded in agreement.

About two weeks later, I decided I was finally going to tell her. Tonight. No putting it off again, no falling prey to those eyes, no distractions. I looked at myself in the dressing room mirror and nodded. You can do it, Maki.

The dressing room door opened and I glanced behind me. Yossy was leaning against the door with her eyes closed.

"Hey!" I said happily, turning around in my chair.

She opened her eyes and looked at me. Her eyes were ice cold, angry, hurt. I almost physically flinched as her stare bore right into me. I couldn't take it anymore and looked down at my lap.

"You've heard," I said softly.

"Yes," she said sharply. I bit my lip.

"I'm sorry."

"Were you planning on telling me?" she demanded. Without looking up, I turned my head away from her.

"I knew I had to, but I just..." I trailed off helplessly.

"Yeah," she snorted.

"I - "

"So when's the happy day?" she cut me off, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "When do I get to stand in front of thousands of screaming fanboys and proclaim happily 'Gocchin! Congratulatioooons!!'?" I looked up at her sadly.

"Don't be like this," I said quietly.

"Like what? Do you really think that we can sneak around with you off on your own tours? How often do we see Nakazawa anymore? A handful of TV tapings and the group concerts? You can't sustain a relationship on that, can you?" she snapped.

Of course not, I wanted to scream, that was the whole point. But what can you do? What can I do?

I didn't say anything.

"How long have you known?" she asked finally.

"...a month," I admitted.

"A MONTH!?" she practically screamed. There was a knock at the door.

"Goto! 20 minutes!" a stagehand called in. I sighed.

"Can't we talk about this later?" I asked, standing up to grab the hat for my costume.

"Couldn't we talk about this before?" she snapped.

"I didn't want to hurt you."

"Uh, too late?" she rolled her eyes. I'd never seen her like this before.

"Why are you so angry at me? This isn't my decision!" I protested, trying to fight back the tears threatening to fall.

"I know,"she sighed. "Just... tell me honestly. Is there any chance of this still working out when we can't ever see each other? Is there?"

I looked away from her, looked all around the room, anything to avoid those pleading eyes. I wanted to grab her hands and tell her of course, we could work through anything. But... it's not like defying management would get us anywhere except fired. Wasn't it better to end this now, cleanly, before even stronger feelings got into the mix? ...before anyone fell in love?

"Ok," Yossy spoke so suddenly, I jumped a little. "If you could, um, go through your apartment and find my things, and I'll do the same, and, um... yeah..." She spun around and left the room.

"I'm so sorry..." I whispered as the door shut. I sank down into my chair and knew.

It was too late. I was already in love.

part 19

part 21

"memory" - part 19

2007-12-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

YOSSY - AUGUST 29TH

I was jerked from the middle of a dream I couldn't remember by the sound of Miki's voice asking me to kiss her, softly kiss her. To hold her, tightly hold her. ...Infinite oh my dream!?

I blinked, disoriented, before I realized she still was fast asleep and it was just my ringtone. Miki snuggled into my arms a bit as I leaned over to grab my phone.

"Hello?" I said quietly, even though Miki can, and has, slept through a Koharu spaz fest in the dressing room.

"Yossy?" I leaned over and peered at the clock on my bedside table. Why the hell was Aya calling me at three in the morning?

"Everything ok?" I asked.

"Well... I didn't want to worry you, but..." she sighed. I sat up, making Miki grumble in her sleep and roll away from me.

"What happened?" I asked, concerned. My mind racing, trying to think of what could have happened that Aya would be calling me of all people.

"I can't find Miki. She's not answering her phone and... Yossy, she never came home tonight."

"Actually, she did," I smiled softly and fondly looked over at the sleeping figure next to me.

"...what?"

"Sorry, I didn't think to call you. Miki's with me." Miki grumbled again and rolled over towards me, flopping her arm across my lap.

"Oh, thank God," Aya sighed with relief. She paused for a moment. "OH! Sorry! Did I, ah, interrupt something?" She laughed lecherously.

"Aya, you perv. No, we were both asleep," I laughed.

"Suuuuuuure."

"We were!" I protested. Well, now at least. Two hours ago, not so much.

"So, Miki's forgiven you and it's all shiny rainbows and I can go back to not having to keep an endless supply of Rocky Road on hand?"

"It's even better," I grinned. "There was nothing to be forgiven."

"...what?"

"Miki talked to Maki. We didn't do anything."

"You didn't do anything," she repeated.

"Not a thing!" I said triumphantly. "I was just falling over drunk and Maki didn't think I'd block out the whole night, so she was just being funny in her note."

"..."

"Aya, you still there?"

"Yoshizawa, you are such a retard," Aya sighed.

"What?! Why?"

"You almost ruined your entire relationship over something that didn't happen."

"...shut up. I thought it did," I muttered.

"Yeah, next time be sure about something before blowing up my Tan's entire world, ok?"

"Sorry," I said meekly. I paused. "Thanks, Aya."

"Huh? For what?"

"Taking care of Miki like that. I know it must be hard for you 'cause of... well..."

"DAMMIT! What part of we're not talking about that anymore do you people not understand!?" she laughed. "Geez, it's just a stupid crush on your hot ass. I'm not swooning at the very mention of your name or anything."

"Still... thank you."

"Yeah, just stop being so freaking suave and let me get over you so I can get laid, ok?" I leaned my head back and laughed. Suddenly, a hand reached up and took the phone from me.

"Aya?" Miki mumbled into the phone. "...ok, yeah, don't care. I've had quite a work out, if you catch my drift, so Miki sleep now. Bye." She flipped my phone shut, threw it onto the bedside table, and possessively dragged me back down next to her like a toddler with her favorite stuffed animal. "Sleepy," she murmured, snuggling into my arms.

"I love you," I smiled.

"SLEEPY!" she grumbled, smacking her hand over my mouth. I grinned and settled down into the pillows. "Love you too," I heard her mutter as I fell back asleep.

part 18

part 20

"memory" - part 18

2007-12-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

MIKI - AUGUST 28TH

I've always been pretty good at sports. And, as a slightly competitive person, I do like to win. So, I tend to give my all when I'm in a race or playing futsal or whatnot.

However.

I have never in my life run as fast as I did that day. I didn't even bother with a cab. I just took off. Late August heat be damned.

I guess when I threw the apartment door open, I must have looked... a bit odd.

"Miki!" Yossy exclaimed, jumping off the couch as I slammed the door shut behind me. "Oh my Gah, are you ok!?"

"Yes! The! You! She!" I managed to blurt out. Whoa, headrush. I bent over and closed my eyes, pressing my hands against my knees, panting heavily. A soft hand touched my cheek. My eyes flew open.

Yossy was kneeling on the floor in front of me, looking up at me in concern. She looked a little scared as she caressed my cheek gently.

"Breathe, ok?" she said quietly. "Slowly. Deep breath in, deep breath out..." I smiled sheepishly and complied. She pushed back some of the sweaty hair stuck to my forehead. "Do you need some water?" I looked into her worried eyes and smiled.

Yossy audibly yelped as I tackled her to the ground and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around me, returning my kiss and holding me close. I almost melted into her as my mind screamed I LOVE YOU over and over again. God, I'd missed this. I knew her brain was going to catch up with her body in a moment, but I was savoring this as long as it lasted.

Sure enough, after a few seconds, she jerked as though startled and pushed me away. She stared at me incredulously.

"Miki, are you ok?" she said slowly. I sat up and straddled her hips.

"You never slept with Maki," I replied, grinning from ear to ear. She blinked.

"Ok, I know we both wish that was true, but - "

"No, you're not listening to me," I laughed and cupped her precious face in my hands. "I just left her apartment. You never slept together." She stared at me.

"...what?" I kissed her confused forehead.

"You, my darling, did not have sex with Goto Maki," I replied. "You were drunk, yes. You were briefly naked, yes. But you didn't do a thing."

"You're not making sense. Maki's back in town?" She grabbed my wrist, halting my hand's attempt to wander onto her chest. I sighed.

"Goto found you drunk. She helped you to her apartment. You puked. She threw your hot little ass in the shower to clean off. She put you to bed. The end."

"Ok, I really want to believe that," she sighed. "But, you were at her apartment?"

"Yep. Oh, by the way, I accidentally swiped the spare keys she gave you," I grinned.

"Why am I not surprised," she muttered.

"So, yeah, I was in her apartment when she came home," I laughed, leaning down to kiss each and every mole on her face.

"Were you possibly threatening her when she told you this?" Yossy asked. I sat back up and looked at her carefully.

"Why don't you want to believe this?"

"It's not that!" she sighed. "God, trust me, I want to believe this more than anything. But I don't want to hurt you again. I'm just... I don't know."

"Scared?" She looked away. I ran my fingers through her hair. "Yocchan, she looked me straight in the eye and told me you'd never slept together."

"Really?"

"Really."

She stared at me in silence for a moment. Then she started to laugh.

"I didn't sleep with Maki," she laughed.

"You didn't sleep with Maki," I grinned.

"I didn't cheat on you!"

"Not even a little!"

We both stared at each other, grinning like idiots. I was still grinning when she reached her hands up, tangled her fingers in my hair, and brought my lips to hers. She kissed me over and over again, pressing my body against hers, clinging to me like she was afraid I was going to disappear.

I'd love to say that she romantically lifted me into her arms and carried me into the bedroom, but I'm not gonna lie.

We never made it out of the entryway.

part 17

part 19

"memory" - part 17

2007-12-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

MAKI - AUGUST 28TH

I smiled and waved politely to the old woman who lives across the hall from me. She eyed me suspiciously and slammed her door shut like she always does. Ah, it's nice to be home.

I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door, pausing to remove my shoes before shutting the door behind me. I sighed and flipped the lights on.

A split second later, I found myself pinned against the wall with a hand around my throat. I coughed, trying to choke out a coherent word and gazed into the eyes of one royally pissed off Fujimoto Miki.

"Mi..." I coughed. "What..."

"You have five seconds to give me a good reason not to beat the shit out of you," Miki said in a low, calm voice. My eyes widened.

"But - "

"And if you think I'm joking, keep in mind that I pretty much have nothing to lose at this point."

"What?!"

"One."

"Miki, I.." I started coughing again.

"Two."

"I CAN'T TALK LIKE THIS!" I managed to yell, pushing her off of me. She smirked.

"Better? Three."

"What are you freaking out about?" I asked, trying to get my bearings. She leaned her head back and laughed.

"Me? Oh, just this." She dangled a piece of paper in front of my eyes. I took it from her and read it.

"Ok..." I said slowly. "First of all, how did you get a hold of this. No, wait. First, how the hell did you get in my apartment. Second, how did you get a hold of this. And third, why don't you ask Yossy?"

"Your spare keys, swiped it from Yocchan's purse, and she doesn't remember a damn thing." She ticked the items off like she was making a grocery list.

"What?!" My jaw dropped. "She doesn't remember anything?!" I grabbed the note and read it again. I started laughing; I couldn't help it. "Oh my God, I... I know I shouldn't write things when I'm mostly asleep, but I didn't realize she wouldn't remember... Oh wow, no wonder you want to kill me!" My hysterical laughter quickly turned into a coughing fit.

"What?" Miki stared at me. I walked past her and into the kitchen to get myself some water.

"Yocchan doesn't remember anything at all?" I asked.

"Just running into you and something about being naked," Miki spat out. I held my hands out defensively even though she was nowhere near me.

"Let me explain," I replied.

"I'm trying to," she rolled her eyes. "I'd hurry up if I was you, though. I don't do calm well."

"I ran into Yossy at the bar down the street. She was drunk. Almost falling over on her ass drunk. I've never seen anyone that smashed and I've gone out with Yuuchan and Kei."

"Yoshizawa. Drunk. Got it."

"I managed to drag her here to sleep it off - "

"And decided to help her out of her drunken stupor with a little Some Girls! Touch action?" she snapped.

"What!? NO!" I laughed. "She kind of, well, puked on the way here, she reeked of alcohol, and honestly, I was a little scared to let her go to sleep like that."

"So you kept her awake by putting your fingers in her - "

"Miki!" I exclaimed. "No. I threw her drunk ass in the shower to sober up a little. She kept laughing and almost fell over, so I had to kind of, well, go in there to keep her steady." Miki raised an eyebrow. "I was fully clothed!" I protested. "Anyway, I managed to get a T-shirt on her before sending her to bed."

"What about this 'trouble walking' bullshit?" she demanded. I pointed at my living room.

"See that coffee table?"

"Yeah."

"She fell over that twice. She rammed into just about everything in here, actually. I'd be shocked if she wasn't completely covered in bruises the next day."

"Wait... so, you really didn't violate my Yocchan?" I laughed and looked down at my empty water glass.

"Who in their right mind would take advantage of the pure innocent Yoshizawa in her drunken stupor?"

"Seriously? Look me in the eye." I laughed and looked her straight in the eye.

"I have never had sex with Yoshizawa Hitomi," I said seriously.

"Oh my Gah."

I laughed again and turned around to refill my glass. "Geez, Miki, you must have a pretty low opinion of me," I laughed. "What kind of person would have slept with their ex like that?" I sighed and turned around.

Miki was nowhere to be found and my front door was wide open. Feeling stupid, I walked over to shut it.

The old lady across the hall was right outside my door, gaping at me. I eyed her suspiciously and slammed my door shut.

Ah, it's nice to be home.

part 16

part 18

Poll Results!

2007-12-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Here are the poll results!

Who do you think is hurt more by the situation?
Yossy - 15 (34%)
Miki - 29 (65%)

I'll, uh, try to come up with another poll ^^;;;

"memory" - part 16

2007-12-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

MIKI - AUGUST 26TH

The smell of coffee brewing woke me up.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, disoriented. Somehow I'd flipped around in the middle of the night and was using Yossy's chest as a pillow, half sitting up as I leaned against her. Her arms were loosely looped around my waist and she was absentmindedly running her fingers along my stomach.

I could see Aya in the kitchen, dancing as she sang that Diamonds song to herself. She randomly pumped an empty coffee cup enthusiastically in the air like she was at a concert. Yossy silently shook with laughter beneath me. Aya glanced over and caught my eye.

"Look who finally decided to join us!" she grinned. I felt Yossy stiffen slightly and her fingers froze mid-motion.

"Hey," Yossy said softly in my ear, her voice uncertain. I couldn't blame her. I wasn't even sure how I felt about things at this point, what I wanted from her. How was she supposed to know... All I knew was that I loved her and needed her.

But, I guess that meant I knew something.

I guess I did know what I wanted from her.

I wished things could back the way they were, but I knew that couldn't happen. There wasn't some magic button I could push that would turn back the clock and make it all go away. I just needed her beside me, quietly assuring me that she was mine and wasn't going anywhere. Assuring me that she would never leave me again. Assuring me that I was truly all that mattered to her and anything else was a stupid, stupid mistake. I just needed to know she still loved me.

But I couldn't say that aloud.

Silently, I took hold of her shirt sleeve and played with the fabric. She relaxed a little behind me and tentatively kissed the top of my head.

"Mikitty!" Aya exclaimed, walking over to us. Damn, she was perky. How much coffee did she drink?

"Morning," I mumbled. Aya was grinning from ear-to-ear. "Aya, do you need some downers?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You two. So cute this morning," she said, ignoring me. Yossy sighed.

"I woke up and caught her trying to take a photo of us with her cell phone," Yossy murmured. Her low voice in my ear made me shiver and she tightened her arms around me.

"Well, it was adorable!" Aya giggled. "You both were smiling in your sleep, all cuddled up together..." she sighed dreamily.

"Seriously, Aya, do you need some downers?" I asked flatly. Yossy chuckled. Aya glared at me.

"I think I almost liked it better when you were angsty and quiet," she muttered. I stuck my tongue out at her. Aya returned the gesture before glancing at Yossy behind me. "If you're giving me a ride, we need to get going."

"Yeah, I know," Yossy sighed and reluctantly released her grip around my waist. I took that as my cue and moved out of her way.

I sat on the edge of the couch and looked at the floor. I still couldn't quite look at her. It was strange. I needed her so much right now, but looking at her uncertain face... It still hurt too much. And sometimes I felt like she could almost see what I was thinking when she looked at me. Especially if I was up to no good.

And right now, my mind was definitely up to no good.

I leaned down and grabbed Yossy's purse from where she had tossed it last night, pausing briefly to stuff something under the couch. I straightened up and handed it to her.

"Thanks," she said quietly. I glanced up and caught her eye. Her piercing gaze made me blush and I quickly glanced back down.

"Oh, just make out already and get it over with!" Aya laughed from the doorway. I looked up and glared at Aya, which just made her laugh harder. That girl needs to switch to decaf. Yossy leaned down and hesitatingly brushed her lips against my cheek.

"Have a good day at work," I said quietly. She pulled back and smiled at me.

"I love you," she whispered, softly touching my cheek.

"I love you, too," I replied, watching her walk out the door with Aya.

I counted to one hundred and leaned over to look out the window. Perfect. Yossy was just driving away with Aya.

I jumped off the couch and squatted on the floor, fishing out the crumpled piece of paper I'd hidden away. I opened it, read it again, and carefully folded it into a neat little square before sliding it into my back pocket.

Pfft. "I won't tell Miki" my ass.

I stalked over to Aya's bedroom and slammed open the door, swiftly heading over to my pile of dirty laundry in the corner. I pulled out my old jeans from that day and shoved my hand in the front pocket.

I smiled slowly as I pulled a small set of keys out of the pocket. I spun them around my finger once before gripping the stylized M keychain tightly.

That bitch was mine.

part 15

part 17

"memory" - part 15

2007-12-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

MIKI - AUGUST 25TH

I sat on the couch and stared out the window, much like I'd been doing for the past few days. It was strange for me to be thinking so much. I'd always been one to act first, think later.

But, I couldn't do that right now. I didn't even know why anymore.

At first, I was trying to protect her. That first night, when she told me that she'd... done that, she looked so hurt, so lost, so disgusted. I didn't want to add to that; I couldn't do that to her no matter what she'd done to me.

But now... I didn't know anymore. Logically, I knew I was angry. Logically, I knew I was hurt deeply. But, I couldn't feel it right now. The phrase 'beside myself with anger' finally made sense to me. I was so upset, I wasn't even feeling it anymore.

I was just calmly looking out the window, almost in awe of how pissed off I was.

Calmly looking out the window, unable to stop thinking about her and Goto having sex.

Calmly looking out the window, watching Yossy's car drive up and park out front of the building.

Wait, what?

I sat up a little and peered out the window. Sure enough, she stepped out of the car and headed inside. I leaned back and sighed. I didn't even move when I heard the door open. For some reason, I wasn't even surprised.

I could feel her eyes on me, studying me. I knew I looked like hell. I'd barely been sleeping the past few days. Every time I closed my eyes, I'd see them together. Finally, I turned and looked at her. We stared at each other silently for a moment.

"Yossy, what are you doing here?" I sighed, turning back to look out the window.

"We need to talk." Her voice was steady, determined.

"I told you. I can't talk to you right now," I replied.

"Then hit me."

"What!?" I exclaimed, turning to gape at her.

"Hit me. Punch me. Kick me. Throw something at me. I don't care." Her serious eyes searched mine.

"Yossy, I'm not going to hit you," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"You're not going to do much of anything are you?" she challenged. My eyes narrowed and I stood up to face her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded.

"It means you're refusing to deal with this," she replied. I rolled my eyes. "You're hiding here at Aya's refusing to see me or talk to me or do anything. You can't just keep bottling this in, Miki. I know you're pissed and I know you don't want to hurt me, but I deserve it at this point. So, if you can't talk, just hit me."

I looked down at the floor and didn't reply. Yossy, I can't say anything to you because I don't know what to say anymore. I don't know what to do anymore. I rebuilt my entire world around you and it crumbled at my feet. I need you near me, but I can't even look at you right now.

"So that's it?" she said quietly. I walked past her and started rearranging the figurines on Aya's bookshelf.

"You should go," I replied, fighting back the tears behind my eyes that were threatening to fall.

"Dammit, Miki, don't fucking do this" Yossy yelled.

She grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me around to face her. I looked at the floor, trying to compose myself. Even now, even like this, her touch was gentle, like I was her most prized possession.

Did you touch her like that?

"I know, okay?" Yossy continued. "I know you're trying to hold back. I know you don't want to hurt me, but this is killing you. I'm not worth it, okay?!"

Then you don't know. Don't say you're not worth it. You're worth everything to me.

"I fucked up. I didn't believe in you. I got stupid. I got drunk and I cheated on you. I'm a complete and total jackass."

"And?" I asked, wondering why she was saying all this. What did she want me to do exactly? What did she expect from me? Am I supposed to agree and that's it. All happy shiny rainbows? Take me right here, right now on the floor? Are you kidding me?

"I'm sorry," she said after a long pause. I started laughing almost hysterically. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry.

"'Sorry'?" I mocked, looking up at her. "You're sorry?! You go off and fuck Goto and all you keep saying is 'I'm sorry'?"

"It's true!" she protested. "What do you want me to say?" That it never happened. That you didn't really throw us away for one drunken night with her. That you've still never touched anyone like that but me.

"How about why? Don't you trust me by now? Haven't I proven over and over again that I'd do anything for you?!" She sighed.

"Miki..."

"Don't 'Miki...' me," I mimicked. "You're apparently the holy child who can do no wrong." I grasped my hands together and put on a high-pitched voice. "Oh! Yossy and Fujimoto have had a fight! Fujimoto must have cheated on her!"

"Ok, that's not my fault. You apparently left them crazy messages - "

"Yeah, I did!" I cut her off. "I was panicked trying to find you. Of course, I didn't know that you'd lost your fucking mind and run off to bang Maki." Yossy sighed.

"I walked in on you making out with Aya - who I had just said had a crush on you. Yes, I should have trusted you or at least stuck around long enough to find out what the hell was going on. And, no, that's not an excuse for what I did, but I mean... what was I supposed to think?"

"Oh, I don't know - something besides 'I'm gonna get drunk and go visit my ex who likes to touch her boobies'?" I retorted.

"I didn't go visit her."

"Drunk dial?" I guessed. "'Hey, Gocchiiiiin, can I check out your boob job?'" Yossy gave me a look.

"No, we ran into each other at the bar or something. I kind of remember her suddenly appearing next to me." I raised an eyebrow.

"Wait. You 'kind of' remember?" I stared at her in disbelief. "Yossy, do you even remember what you did!?"

"Only bits and pieces," she admitted.

"Only... so, what, you remember running into her and then being up-close-and-personal with her Some Boys! Touch?" I snapped.

"I don't remember that part at all," she replied quietly.

"What?" My jaw dropped and a tiny bit of hope flickered in my chest. "Are you sure you even slept with her?" Maybe she hadn't. I mean, this IS the same woman who had no idea I was the same girl she'd violated in a closet all those years ago.

...Damn, that was hot.

"Yeah, I mean...." she sighed heavily, drawing my attention back to reality. "Miki, I just do, ok? You don't want to hear about this."

"Quite frankly, I don't think there's anything you could say that would be worse than what I see in my mind every time I look at you," I replied honestly. She gritted her teeth in annoyance.

"fine." She stalked over to her purse and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. She shoved it into my hand. "Happy?" she practically spat out. I unfolded the paper, smoothing it out a little. My eyes scanned over the writing.

"...'trouble walking'? What the hell, did she sodomize you or something?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Very funny." I grinned despite myself.

"Thanks....'I won't tell Miki'... yeah, I bet you won't... 'Korea'... oh that's where she went... 'spare keys'" I paused while my brain tried to put two and two together. "...huh." I handed the note back to her. She threw it into her purse like she never wanted to see it again. "That doesn't really prove anything," I pointed out.

"I woke up naked in her bed, Miki,." she replied quietly. I flinched as my tiny ray of hope vanished. "And I remember enough..." I shook my head.

"That bitch," I muttered.

"What?"

"I can't believe she would do this." I shook my head. "I knew she still had a thing for you, but to take advantage of you when you were like that..."

"Wait, you're blaming all of this on Maki?!"

"Oh, not completely," I conceded. "You shouldn't have been drunk off your ass. You shouldn't have been willing to sleep with her. But she sure as hell shouldn't have fucked someone who didn't know what the hell they were doing."

"Miki!" She sounded so shocked, I almost wanted to pat her on the head. Poor innocent, naive little Yocchan. So trusting.

"Please, it's true. She was sober, you were smashed. So, yeah, I do blame her. And when she gets back from wherever the hell she's crawled off to now - "

"She's sick," Yossy interrupted me.

"Oh, right. With Nono's fake 'I'm pregnant' illness. Right. She probably just didn't want to come back and own up to what she's done," I rolled my eyes.

"Ok, you know what?" she snapped. "You need to get off your high horse. You're not completely blameless in this mess."

EXCUSE ME?!

"Yeah, I shouldn't have gotten drunk."

Shut up.

"Yeah, I sure as hell shouldn't have slept with her."

Shut up!

"But, you shouldn't have been off with your tongue in Aya's mouth! Don't act like you had nothing to do with this!"

Shut up shut up shut up!

Before I knew what I was doing, I'd slapped her full across the face. She stumbled back a little and hit the couch. To my horror, I realized I was crying.

"Don't you fucking blame this on me," I choked out. "I'm an idiot, but you should have trusted me."

"You're right," she admitted, rubbing her red cheek.

"Damn straight, I'm right!" I angrily swatted away my falling tears. "You -"

"I'm sorry," she quietly interrupted me. I looked at her through my tears.

"I know," I replied. We stared at each other silently. There was nothing left to say.

"Can we work through this?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know," I admitted. I sniffed again. Stupid crying. "I... God, I want to." I don't think you'll ever know how much. "I just... every single time I think about you, I think about it. Every time I see you, I..." I trailed off and looked up at her. God, she was so beautiful. "It would be easier if I could just hate you and be done with it."

"Ok, I'll... " she trailed off and sighed. "I'll leave it up to you, then. I don't want to push you, but... I love you and I miss you." What? She reached down and picked her purse up off the floor. No...

"Don't..." I couldn't get the words out.

"What?" The worry clouding her eyes made me cry harder. I couldn't stop. Don't leave me. Don't go. I need you.

Please, don't go.

"Just... don't..." I choked out. I stepped towards her, leaned my forehead against her warm chest, and cried.

After a moment, she hesitantly put her arms around me, like she was afraid of breaking me. My fists balled up the edge of her shirt and I clung to her, almost unable to move. She tightened her embrace and slowly moved backwards until I found myself on the couch, half-laying on top of her sitting figure. She leaned back against the corner pillows and rubbed my back softly. She kissed the top of my head as I cried harder than I've ever cried before.

"I love you," she said softly.

"I love you, too," I replied, my voice distorted by my tears.

part 14

part 16

I'm alive, really XD

2007-12-08T11:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the long break between chapters. Between being sick all week and working on something else, so I didn't get much done on memory.
The good news is that I did finish chapter 15 and I'm working on 16 right now, so 15 should be up some time today. <3
Thanks for your patience everyone!

BTW, does anyone have a new poll idea? XD

"memory" - part 14

2007-12-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

YOSSY - AUGUST 25TH

Miki was sitting on the couch, staring out the window. She seemed lost in her own thoughts. Her hair was tangled and messy. There were dark circles under her eyes. The setting sun coming through the window lit up her profile. She looked so tired and so beautiful, like a war-weary goddess.

I almost turned around and walked right back out.

She turned her head and looked at me. For a split second, I wanted to ask where Miki was. I mean... it was Miki, but it wasn't. She didn't have that sparkle, that fire in her eyes. I began to fear that maybe in that one stupid drunken bender, I really had destroyed everything beyond repair.

"Yossy, what are you doing here?" she said finally, turning away from me to look out the window again.

"We need to talk," I replied.

"I told you. I can't talk to you right now," she sighed.

"Then hit me."

"What!?" That got her attention.

"Hit me. Punch me. Kick me. Throw something at me. I don't care." She rolled her eyes.

"Yossy, I'm not going to hit you."

"You're not going to do much of anything are you?" I demanded. She stood up and faced me.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Miki asked, a edge of annoyance creeping into her voice

"It means you're refusing to deal with this. You're hiding here at Aya's refusing to see me or talk to me or do anything. You can't just keep bottling this in, Miki. I know you're pissed and I know you don't want to hurt me, but I deserve it at this point. So, if you can't talk, just hit me."

She looked down at the floor and said nothing. Shit. My mom was right. It was all or nothing now.

"So that's it?" I asked quietly.

"You should go," she said stiffly, walking away from me. She started fiddling with some knickknacks on the bookshelf.

"Dammit, Miki, don't fucking do this!" I exclaimed, stalking over to her. I grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her towards me. She looked down at the floor. "I know, okay? I know you're trying to hold back. I know you don't want to hurt me, but this is killing you. I'm not worth it, okay?! I fucked up. I didn't believe in you. I got stupid. I got drunk and I cheated on you. I'm a complete and total jackass."

"And?" And?

"...I'm sorry," I said finally. She started laughing and looked up at me. The fire was back in her eyes.

"'Sorry'?" she mimicked. "You're sorry? You go off and fuck Goto and all you keep saying is 'I'm sorry'?"

"It's true! What do you want me to say?"

"How about why? Don't you trust me by now? Haven't I proven over and over again that I'd do anything for you?!"

"Miki..."

"Don't 'Miki...' me," she rolled her eyes. "You're apparently the holy child who can do no wrong. Oh! Yossy and Fujimoto have had a fight! Fujimoto must have cheated on her!"

"Ok, that's not my fault," I protested. "You apparently left them crazy messages - "

"Yeah, I did! I was panicked trying to find you. Of course, I didn't know that you'd lost your fucking mind and run off to bang Maki."

"I walked in on you making out with Aya - who I had just said had a crush on you. Yes, I should have trusted you or at least stuck around long enough to find out what the hell was going on. And, no, that's not an excuse for what I did, but I mean... what was I supposed to think?"

"Oh, I don't know - something besides 'I'm gonna get drunk and go visit my ex who likes to touch her boobies'?" she snapped sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"I didn't go visit her," I sighed.

"Drunk dial? 'Hey, Gocchiiiiin, can I check out your boob job?'"

"No, we ran into each other at the bar or something. I kind of remember her suddenly appearing next to me."

"Wait. You 'kind of' remember? Yossy, do you even remember what you did!?" Miki stared at me incredulously.

"Only bits and pieces."

"Only... so, what, you remember running into her and then being up-close-and-personal with her Some Boys! Touch?" God, I wanted to kiss her so much right then.

"I don't remember that part at all," I admitted.

"What?" she gaped at me. "Are you sure you even slept with her?"

"Yeah, I mean..." I sighed. "Miki, I just do, ok? You don't want to hear about this."

"Quite frankly, I don't think there's anything you could say that would be worse than what I see in my mind every time I look at you."

"...fine." I walked over to where I'd laid my purse when I walked in. I pulled out that damn note and shoved it into her hand. "Happy?"

"...'trouble walking'? What the hell, did she sodomize you or something?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Very funny."

"Thanks. ...'I won't tell Miki'... yeah, I bet you won't... 'Korea'... oh that's where she went... 'spare keys'...huh" she looked a little thoughtful as she handed it back to me. I shoved it back into my purse. "That doesn't really prove anything."

"I woke up naked in her bed, Miki." She flinched. "And I remember enough..."

"That bitch."

"What?" I stared at her blankly. She was shaking her head and looking down.

"I can't believe she would do this. I knew she still had a thing for you, but to take advantage of you when you were like that..."

"Wait, you're blaming all of this on Maki?!" I blinked.

"Oh, not completely. You shouldn't have been drunk off your ass. You shouldn't have been willing to sleep with her. But she sure as hell shouldn't have fucked someone who didn't know what the hell they were doing," she snapped.

"Miki!"

"Please, it's true. She was sober, you were smashed. So, yeah, I do blame her. And when she gets back from wherever the hell she's crawled off to now - "

"She's sick."

"Oh, right. With Nono's fake 'I'm pregnant' illness. Right. She probably just didn't want to come back and own up to what she's done."

"Ok, you know what?" I snapped. "You need to get off your high horse. You're not completely blameless in this mess." She glared at me. "Yeah, I shouldn't have gotten drunk. Yeah, I sure as hell shouldn't have slept with her. But, you shouldn't have been off with your tongue in Aya's mouth! Don't act like you had nothing to do with this!"

Her eyes narrowed. I knew I'd gone too far. But I couldn't take the words back.

She slapped me across the face. Hard.

I stumbled back a little, bumping into the couch. Tears were slowly rolling down Miki's cheeks as she glared at me.

"Don't you fucking blame this on me," she said in a low voice. "I'm an idiot, but you should have trusted me."

"You're right," I replied, rubbing my cheek.

"Damn straight I'm right," she sniffed, angrily wiping away some of her still-falling tears. "You - "

"I'm sorry," I said quietly.

"I know." She took a shaky breath. We looked at each other silently.

"Can we work through this?" I asked finally, scared to hear the answer.

"I don't know," she replied, sniffling. "I... God, I want to. I just... every single time I think about you, I think about it. Every time I see you, I..." she trailed off and looked up at me. "It would be easier if I could just hate you and be done with it."

"Ok, I'll... " I sighed. "I'll leave it up to you, then. I don't want to push you, but... I love you and I miss you." I reached down and picked my purse back up.

"Don't..." She was crying harder now.

"What?" God, she looked so miserable. I wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to make this all go away.

"Just... don't..." she managed to get out.

She walked forward and leaned her head against my chest, her tears making damp spots on my shirt. I hesitantly put my arms around her. Miki grabbed the edge of my shirt and held onto it for dear life, leaning into me like she didn't have the strength to stand any more. I slowly maneuvered us backwards onto the couch and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you," I said quietly, rubbing her back.

"I love you, too," she sobbed into my shirt.

I opened my eyes when I heard the door unlock. Miki was asleep, still half laying on me, her face streaked with dried tears. I had my chin resting on the top of her head and was still absentmindedly rubbing her back. Aya opened the door and cautiously stepped inside.

"Tan?" she called. She looked over at me and a small smile appeared on her face. I put my finger to my lips. Aya walked over to us. "Fixed?"

"No," I said quietly, shaking my head. I looked down at the sleeping girl in my arms. "But it's a start."

part 13

part 15

Poll Results!

2007-12-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the results from the poll!

Who should confront Maki when she gets back from Korea?
Yossy - 6 (15%)
Miki - 18 (45%)
Aya - 13 (32%)
Ayaka - 10 (25%)

Thanks so much to the 40 people that voted!! <3

"memory" - part 13

2007-11-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

AYA - AUGUST 25TH

>beep beep<

I groaned and flipped open my cell phone.

ayayayaya
You're out of ice cream again. All that's left is vanilla.
And I hate vanilla, but I'm eating it anyway.
Could you get more on your way home? Please?
Thanks! You're the bestest friend ever. <3
mikikikiki

I sighed heavily. Again with the freaking ice cream. If Tan wasn't carefully, she'd be putting retro Yoshizawa to shame in no time. Suddenly, my eyes spotted a familiar face in the hallway.

"YOU!" I shouted. Yossy jumped and stared at me in alarm. I stalked over to her and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Aya, what the hell?"

"You. Need. To. Fix. This," I said slowly, shaking her a little with each word. She looked alarmed.

"Ok... first, let's start by you not giving me bruises." I flushed and released my death grip on her. "Thanks," she said in an amused tone. "Now what do I need to fix?"

"Tan," I replied. Yossy's face fell.

"Aya, that's pretty hard to do when she still won't see me," she said in a quiet voice.

"I know and I'm sorry for bringing it up at work, but she's... I don't even know what she is right now."

"Well, I just finished for the day anyway. What do you mean you don't know?"

"She hasn't left my apartment since she ran into you in the cafeteria," I started.

"That's pretty normal for her," Yossy laughed. "She doesn't like going out."

"I know, but... she's still in her pajamas. She only showered this morning because I made her. And I'm pretty sure all she's done the past two days is sit on my couch eating ice cream." Yossy bit her lip and looked away from me. "Yossy, I don't think she's sleeping either."

"What do you want me to do, Aya? Break your door down?" she sighed, turning back to face me. I reached into my purse and pulled out a small envelope.

"I got this made today for Tan, but I think I'll have you deliver it," I said, pulling out the spare key and handing it to her. She looked down at the key and nodded.

"Thanks," she said quietly. I smiled.

"Just do me one favor, ok?"

"What?"

"Don't have sex on my couch. I like my couch."

part 12

part 14

"memory" - part 12

2007-11-27T15:43:00.001-07:00

YOSHIZAWA - AUGUST 23RD

I sighed as walked towards the kitchen. That freaking kid. No matter how many times I tell him, he never listens. I glanced up at the kitchen and froze. Someone was in my kitchen. Rifling through my cupboards, looking for food. Oh my Gah, I'm going to die. I'm gonna -

Wait a second. I know that butt.

"HITOMI!" I yelled. My oldest jumped, hitting her head on the top of the cupboard.

"Damn, Mom, what!?" she groaned, rubbing the spot she'd hit.

"What are you doing here? You almost scared me half to death," I said, swatting at her with the dust rag I was holding.

"Can't a girl just come home for dinner?" she complained.

"Nope," I replied, giving her a hug. I took the opportunity to tug playfully on her hair. "Still blonde?" I teased, pulling back to look at her.

"Yeah," she laughed a little. I studied her face carefully.

"What's wrong?" She sighed and plopped down in one of the kitchen chairs. I sat down across from her.

"Um. Well, I - "

"I'm home!"

Ugh. That boy and his timing. I could hear my youngest walking towards us, probably in search of food again. Hitomi glanced behind me and smiled.

"HEY!" my son laughed. "Look what the cat dragged in. Damn, sis, you look like hell. What, did you get dumped or something?" The look on Hitomi's face told me that was exactly what had happened.

"Go to your room," I snapped without turning around.

"But Mom, I - " I turned and glared at him.

"I said go to your room! And if I find a pile of your dirty dishes by the computer again, you'll be staying in your room all weekend, understand?" He rolled his eyes and flounced out of the kitchen.

"He's getting to that stage already, huh?" Hitomi commented.

"Yeah, parenting's a real joy," I agreed. "Now talk."

"It's complicated," she sighed.

"Most things are," I replied with a smile. "So, you were seeing someone?"

"Yeah, well... I think I still am, technically, but... I don't know, it's weird."

"Ok..." I said slowly. "When did this start?"

"Um..." she leaned back thoughtfully. "April...?" I raised an eyebrow. She'd been seeing someone since April and this is the first I'd heard about it!? "Yeah, April of 2005."

"2005!?" I exclaimed. "You've been dating the same person for over two years and never thought to mention it?!"

"Pretty much," she shrugged. I shook my head.

"Wait - have you slept together?!"

"MOTHER!"

"Not like that, you little pervert!" I exclaimed. "I mean, well... you get cold easily and in the winter, you put on some of the strangest combinations of pajamas I've ever seen in my life." Hitomi groaned dramatically.

"Yes, my pajamas have been seen. I was told it's cute. And anyway, they're not strange. They're warm and comfortable," she insisted.

"Riiiight. So what happened?"

"I did something really, really stupid," Hitomi sighed. "And, honestly, she... um, that is, uh... er... by the way, I'm a le- "

"Hitomi, I'm your mother. I knew you were gay before you did. Continue." She laughed, her cheeks turning a little red.

"Right. So, really, she should have broken up with me on the spot, but... she didn't. She just kind of walked out."

"Isn't that the same thing?" I asked.

"Well, no, because she left the dogs and all of her things. I mean, we'd have to take her off the lease too, and - "

"YOU MOVED IN WITH HER!?" I exclaimed. I smacked the table. "Have I ever even met this girl you're shacked up with?"

"Um..." She bit her thumbnail like she always does when she's distracted. "Yeah, you've met her at least once."

"Ok, you have got to start talking to me more," I shook my head. "But that can wait. So, you did something stupid - which I'm guessing means you won't tell me what - and your live-in girlfriend walked out."

"Right."

"So... what? You can't find her?"

"No, no. I found her the next morning. But she won't see me or talk to me," Hitomi sighed.

"Maybe she just needs some time to think?" My daughter shook her head.

"Mi- um, she's more the 'say exactly what I think and figure out what I meant later' type."

"Oh." I sat there thoughtfully. "Mi", huh...

"And I ran into her yesterday and she acted normal for a second - "

"By 'normal' you mean she yelled at you?" I asked, starting to piece things together.

"Right. And then she apologized and ran off." Hitomi shook her head. "I really don't know what to do. I think she's holding all of it in because she doesn't want to hurt me, but..."

"But she needs to let it out so you can work past it," I replied. She nodded.

"Mom, what am I supposed to do?"

"Make her," I shrugged.

"What?" she stared at me.

"Make her yell at you. Next time you see her, take her aside - find an empty dressing room or a storage closet or something - and make her yell at you." Hitomi got a weird look on her face and cleared her throat. "No good?"

"No! No, just... thinking of something else. Sorry. Um, how can I make her yell at me?"

"I dunno, provoke her a little. Quite frankly, from what little you've told me, it sounds like you've got nothing to lose at this point. Either she lets it out and you two work past it or she doesn't and well..." I trailed off. She nodded slowly.

"Thanks."

"That's what I'm here for. Well, that and free food," I grinned, reaching across the table to pat her hand. "I do have a question for you, though."

"Hmm?"

"Didn't Fujimoto get Friday'd with some comedian a few months ago?" Her shocked expression told me that my guess was correct.

"Uh, technically, but, uh - "

"She faked it?" I supplied. My daughter looked at me carefully and slowly nodded. I smiled. "That's what I thought."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
In case anyone was confused, the narrator for this chapter was Yossy's mother. I've been referring to Yossy-narrated parts as YOSSY since I started "memory" for this very reason. XD

part 11

part 13

Trapped! -memoir omake series I-

2007-11-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

Miki groaned and leaned back against the set piece, grinning at her girlfriend's self-satisfied smirk.

"Best idea you've had in a while," Yossy commented, readjusting her track pants. She glanced down at her watch. "Oh, dammit! We've gotta get changed!" Miki grabbed Yossy's wrist.

"That took an hour!? Damn, so much for a quickie," Miki said.

"Well, uh, for us, that is a quickie," Yossy laughed. Miki cackled as she stood up. She was heading offstage when suddenly she stopped and ducked back behind the set piece again.

"Crap," Miki muttered.

"What's wrong?" Yossy asked curiously.

"Listen," Miki replied. Yossy was silent for a moment. She could hear voices chattering. Male voices. A lot of male voices. Her eyes became very wide.

"The audience came in?"

"The audience came in," Miki confirmed. Yossy looked at her freshly ravaged girlfriend.

"Well, shit," she said profoundly.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Backstage, the girls were in a panic.

"Where are they!?!?!" Koharu wailed. Risa grabbed the tall teen by the shoulders and shook her.

"Get yourself together, Koharu! They wouldn't have wanted you to act like that!" Risa exclaimed.

"Dammit, Gaki, stop talking like they're dead!" Reina complained. "They're probably just having some nice quality time somewhere, if you know what I mean."

"OK!" Everyone turned and stared at Ai, who was turning a bit red. "We don't know where our fearless leaders have gone, but we've gotta deal with it."

"How are we supposed to deal with it?" Eri complained. "They're like half the show!"

"We....we just do!" Ai replied, looking around helplessly.

"Ok, I'll take Yoshizawa's part in Morning Curry," Risa began. "I might get a little out of breath, but I'll deal."

"Good!" Ai said with a grin. "I can do the Happy Summer Wedding speech. Eri, you can take Miki's part in Fine Emotion!, right?"

"I should be able to, but who's going to smack me around in Shabondama?"

"Anyone pissed at Eri?" Reina demanded.

"ME!"

"Ok, Shige it is!" Ai exclaimed.

"What!? Why!?" Eri whined.

"You ate the last cookie earlier," Sayu pouted.

"Wait, Sayu's going to do the slap-my-bitch-up Shabondama in her ShigePink outfit?" Reina exclaimed.

"...yes?" Risa replied tentatively.

"Fantastic," Reina deadpanned. She looked around at her fellow members. "Now, who's going to do the great lesbian love ballad?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Meanwhile, their fearless leaders were a bit freaked out. Sure, they'd just gotten laid, but now they were trapped onstage unless they wanted to nonchalantly parade out in front of thousands of slightly deranged fans.

Miki, of course, was all for the nonchalant parading, but Yossy said no.

"Seriously, Miki, what are we gonna do?"

"I don't know about you, but I'm going to say I have acute gastroenteritis," Miki deadpanned.

Suddenly, Yossy spotted Niigaki in the wings. Without thinking twice, the Gatas captain took off her slipper and chucked it at the reaction queen.

"EH!? USO! WHAT THE!?" Niigaki exclaimed. She turned around to find Yossy frantically waving at her and Miki giving a casual v-sign. Her jaw dropped.

"Turn off the lights!" Yossy called as loudly as she dared. Niigaki stared blankly at them and shrugged her shoulders. Yossy groaned and started making weird gestures. "The lights!" she mouthed slowly. "L I G H T S. Lights." Niigaki still stared at them blankly.

"TURN OFF THE FUCKING LIGHTS," Miki bellowed. The entire hall went dead silent. Yossy and Risa looked at each other in horror. Miki struggled to hold in her laughter.

"...nah!" a fan was heard saying clearly and the audience began talking again. Risa ran off and found a staff member to kill the lights.

As soon as the stage was dark, Yossy and Miki sprinted out from behind their cover and ran backstage.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU TWO BEEN!?" Reina demanded.

"Later!" Yossy snapped, grabbing her opening costume off of the rack and stripping down right there.

"Yoshizawa! Camera!" Sayu called. Yossy paused, her hand on the back of her bra clasp and glared at the cameraman. He audibly yelped and ran down the hallway.

Miki, never one to care if a cameraman was there or not, was already dressed in her stage costume and was putting on her makeup as fast as she could.

"ONE MINUTE!" a stagehand called. The other girls hurried to get into position in the wings. Yossy quickly ran a hand through her hair to get rid of any afterglow hair, slapped on a ton of mascara, and called it a day. Miki completely ignored her hair and finished her makeup. As they ran to get in place, Miki turned and grinned at Yossy.

"That was so worth it."

memoir omake series

2007-11-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

memoir omake series
table of contents

Trapped!

Memoir Trilogy Omake Series

2007-11-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

So, I've decided to randomly do a series of omake stories for the memoir trilogy (memoir, 100%, memory). Some of these work as one-shots and so, those will be put in the one-shot category as well.

Basically, I was in such a hurry to get the plot out there, I skipped over some ideas I had earlier. XD

The first one will be posted shortly. Enjoy!

"memory" - part 11

2007-11-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

YOSSY - AUGUST 22ND

I stood perfectly still, lost in thought. Miki had just humiliated me in front of basically everyone I'd been working with for the past 7 years. But, that wasn't what was bothering me. What bothered me was that she didn't do more.

She should have ranted at me. She should have mocked me for being hurt by my own actions. But, she didn't. She apologized and ran off. And that upset me more than anything she could have said or done. It was like I'd broken her.

Slowly, I became aware that everyone was staring at me. I blinked and looked around.

"Yocchan?"

"Yossy, what did Miki mean?"

"She was joking, right? She's just messing with us, right?"

"Yoshizawa?"

"Leave her alone." My body immediately tensed up and I stood up very, very straight. Oh, shit.

"But, Yuuchan!" Yaguchi protested.

"I said Leave. Her. Alone," Nakazawa repeated slowly, glaring at the other girls. The others slowly slunk away from me as Nakazawa grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out of the room. Shit, shit, shit.

Miki, I love you and I'm sorry, but I think Nakazawa's going to kill me now.

"Damn, Yoshizawa! After all this time, I still make you this nervous?" Nakazawa laughed when we were alone.

"Sorry," I apologized, trying to fight back a blush. She just shook her head, looking supremely amused.

"So, talk."

"I'm a jackass," I stated bluntly. She shook her head.

"I've known many a jackass in my time, and you're not one of them. What happened?"

"Exactly what Miki said. I got really drunk and slept with my ex."

"And by 'ex', you mean Gocchin?" I nodded. "Why?"

"I thought Miki had left me for Aya," I said sheepishly. Nakazawa threw her head back and started laughing.

"Why would Matsuura hook up with Fujimoto when she's been half in love with you for the past year?" My jaw dropped.

"How did you...?" I trailed off and shook my head. "Nevermind. You know everything."

"Damn straight."

"What am I supposed to do?" She sighed.

"I don't know. But, in my experience, if I can't figure out what to do, I need to find someone who knows me better than I know myself and ask them." I nodded thoughtfully. I knew just who to ask.

"Well, then, can you tell me why everyone thought Miki cheated on me?" I said finally. "I thought everyone knew that Friday article was fake."

"Oh, we knew that, but she left these crazy messages for everyone the other night asking us to send you home if we saw you. She wouldn't tell anyone why, so everyone just figured she'd really done it this time." I shook my head.

Wait. If Miki was leaving messages for everyone, then why didn't Maki...

"Hey, Nakazawa, do you know when Maki's flight gets in? She comes back tomorrow, right?" She looked at me in surprise.

"Yeah, but she'll be at her mother's for a while at least. Doctor's orders."

"What do you mean 'doctor's orders'?"

"Oh, didn't you hear? Gocchin's really sick. She almost collapsed when she got offstage in Korea. She's been put on bed rest." My jaw dropped. Nakazawa smirked at my reaction. "What exactly did you two DO that night?" I just shook my head.

"I don't know."

part 10

part 12

"memory" - part 10

2007-11-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

MIKI - AUGUST 22ND

I sighed heavily as I walked down the hallway. They had canceled everything but the Hawaii tour - and that was only safe because it would be too expensive to cancel. No new GAM single. No TV work. My radio show would end as soon as the contract expired. They'd sternly told me I was lucky I wasn't kicked out of Gatas as well. With things how they are right now, I almost wished I was. Ugh, why did I ever get out of bed this morning.

I walked into the cafeteria. Most of the girls were still there from a late photoshoot for some 10th anniversary promotion that I wasn't to be a part of anymore. I remembered Yossy talking about it...

Abe caught my eye and quickly looked away, turning to Iida and hastily starting a conversation. Even Takahashi was avoiding my gaze. Nakazawa barely glanced up from her paper as I walked by her and over to the vending machine to buy a drink. On top of everything else, I woke up with a killer sore throat and my body was begging for a drink at this point. I wrenched the cap off the bottle and gulped down the cool liquid.

I could feel the eyes on me. I wanted to scream at them, force them to come out with it. I've already heard the whispers behind my back, so just say it to my face!

But I couldn't. I just didn't care anymore.

And then she walked in with Rika. Our eyes locked. Yossy froze.

"Yocchan! Are you ok?" Abe asked, running over to her. Most of the girls followed suit, crowding around her with concern. She just kept staring at me until I had to look away. It hurt too much to look at her. Every time I saw her, I'd think about it. About them together. It made me sick.

"Fujimoto, maybe you should go," Yasuda called back to me. Surprised, Yossy finally looked away from me and turned to Kei.

"What? She doesn't have to - "

"You don't have to pretend," Risa interrupted, patting Yossy's arm.

"They all think I cheated on you," I called out in a clear, even voice. Yossy looked horrified. I calmly walked over to the group and looked each one in the eye. "Isn't that ironic?" I continued, unable to stop myself. "I'm not the one who got drunk and slept with my ex, but I'm the one getting blamed for it."

I regretted the words as soon as they left my lips. Yossy looked as though I'd slapped her across the face. She closed her eyes and bit her lip. The others looked at Yossy, waiting for her to deny it.

"Yoshizawa?" Koharu said softly, the confusion apparent in her voice. Still, Yossy said nothing. She looked down at the floor, her fists clenched helplessly at her sides.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "This is why I can't be around you right now." I started to move past them.

"Miki..." She reached out and grabbed my arm. I flinched at the familiar warmth on my skin. God, she sounded so tired, so drained, so desperate. I wanted to hold her, to tell her everything would be fine, to tell her I love her, to go home and lie in her arms forever. But I couldn't forget what had happened. I couldn't just pretend it never happened. I wouldn't do that to myself.

"Don't," I finally choked out. "It's still too raw." I wrenched myself away from her and fled the room.

part 9

part 11

"memory" - part 9

2007-11-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

YOSSY - AUGUST 22ND

I stood outside of the door for what felt like an eternity before I mustered up the courage to knock. I knew there were only two places Miki would have gone. And considering I had her wallet with me, I knew she couldn't have gone home to Hokkaido, so that left only one place.

I looked up just as Aya opened her front door. She bit her lip and silently let me in. I glanced around her apartment.

"Is... " I trailed off.

"Tan's still sleeping," she said quietly.

"I need to talk to her," I replied, starting towards the shut bedroom door. Aya stepped into my path.

"I'll wake her up," she stated, gesturing for me to sit on the couch. I started to protest, but thought better of it and simply nodded. What right did I have to force my presence upon her?

I sat down on the couch and stared at my feet. I still wasn't sure what I was going to say exactly.

Miki, I love you. I'm sorry. Please don't leave me.

No, that wouldn't work.

Hey, Miki? Remember when I thought you'd cheated on me with Random Comedian Dude? Yeah, now you kind of know how I felt, so we're even, right?

Yeah, she'd probably punch me for that one. Hell, I kind of want to punch myself for that.

Miki, I'm sorry. I should have trusted you, but I didn't. And because of that, I did the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life. And I know I don't have any right to ask you, but I really do think we can get through this. I at least want to try because I love you so much it makes me crazy.

Ok. Ok, that sounded decent.

God, this was hard.

The door opened. Ok, Yoshizawa, here we go. I took a deep breath and looked up. Aya was coming out of the bedroom. I glanced past her.

Miki was sitting up in the bed wearing one of Aya's concert t-shirts. Her hair was messy and her bangs were sticking up a little. She looked like she hadn't slept at all. God, she was so beautiful.

She was looking straight at me. Sad, accusing, determined.

Our eyes met.

And the door shut.

I looked at Aya. She gave a sad half-smile.

"If my Tan doesn't want to see someone, my Tan doesn't have to see them," she said sheepishly. I smiled a little in spite of everything and stood up.

"You must hate me," I said. Aya sighed heavily and looked up at the ceiling.

"Yossy, if I hated you, none of us would be in this mess." I was confused for a split second before I remembered what Miki had told me. I'd been so caught up in everything else, I'd completely forgotten about that. Shit.

"Aya... I'm sorry, I - "

"Oh, geez, not you too!" Aya exclaimed, cutting me off. "This is why I never said anything."

"But - "

"But nothing. We're not talking about that anymore," she laughed, waving the topic away. "We never should have talked about it to begin with," she said under her breath. I looked at her carefully.

"Don't blame yourself for my mess."

"I can't help it," she sighed. "I was saying things just to push Tan's buttons and I knew she was going to react like that. I really should have - "

"I really should have trusted Miki," I cut her off. "Or at least had the guts to confront her about it instead of running off like a coward and getting completely smashed." I shook my head in disgust. Aya didn't say anything. I sighed and shook my head before handing her the bag I'd been holding.

"What's this?" she asked, glancing inside.

"Miki's purse and wallet and some clothes," I explained. I smiled sadly. "I was pretty sure she wouldn't come home with me, but I had to try anyway." I bit my lip. "Oh, and her keys are in there, too. She even forgot those..." Aya nodded silently. I glanced at the closed bedroom door. "Well, I need to get going. I have an Ongaku Gatas promotion today."

"Are you going to be ok?" Aya asked incredulously. I laughed.

"I'm surprisingly good at being on auto-pilot," I replied, heading for the door. I paused in the doorway. "Thanks for taking care of her."

"Of course," she replied, looking surprised. I smiled again and headed out the door. I stopped again and turned around.

"I LOVE YOU, MIKI!" I yelled into the apartment. I smiled at the surprised Aya and calmly shut the door behind me.

part 8

part 10

Poll Results! And some rambling XD

2007-11-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

So, the poll ended. 27 people voted (and I love them all for it <3)
So here are the results:

They totally had sex - 11% (3)
They almost had sex, but stopped - 25% (7)
It was completely innocent - 22% (6)
Almond's going to change the ending to whatever gets the least votes - 40% (11)

WTF! XD

So, that means that since "They totally had sex" has the least votes, most people think that's what actually happened? Right? Or, since that in a round-about way got the most votes, that's least likely to be what happened?
I'm confusing myself now. XD

Regardless, that last option really was a joke. I've had the ending set since before I made that poll and I'm not changing it. Of course, maybe the poll results support my ending. Who knows! Only me and my beta readers! Wahaha

I'm actually working on another fic besides this one right now. A short, silly one about the 2005 Fall Bari Bari concert. Insane antics ensue. When I finish, I'll recommend reading while watching that concert.

Anyway, not much else going on. I should be posting part 9 at some point today. Yocchin narrator. Whoo. ^^;

Oh, and thanks a ton to all the great comments I've been getting lately! I love comments. They keep me going and give me ideas! If you ask a question that I hadn't thought about, I usually end up writing it in later somehow. Go me.

Oh and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US. <3

"memory" - part 8

2007-11-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

MIKI - AUGUST 22ND

I woke up exhausted. I felt like I hadn't slept at all. It probably didn't help that every time I closed my eyes, I saw them together... kissing... touching...

And as comforting as the familiar warmth of Aya's embrace was, it wasn't the same. I missed the feel of Yossy's arms around me, the way she would reach out and pull me close as she woke up, the glint in her eyes when she woke up wanting more than a good morning kiss... I just missed her.

I rolled over and tried to sleep again. Aya had woken up a few hours ago and had already showered and checked in on me twice, reminding me that I had a meeting with management this afternoon.

God, I just wanted to go home and fall into her strong arms, but I couldn't forget what had happened. I wanted to slap her and scream at her until I was hoarse, but I couldn't forget the pain in her eyes as she told me what she'd done. I wanted to beg her to lie and tell me it wasn't true, but I couldn't forget the horrible truth.

My circular train of thought was interrupted by a light knock at the door. I raised my head up in time to see Aya softly shut the door behind her.

"Aya, is everything -"

"Yossy's here," she interrupted quietly, sitting down next to me on the edge of the bed. I sat straight up, my heart pounding. "She wants to see you."

"I..." I sighed and looked down at my lap. "Aya, I want to see her, but I... I can't. I just... I know if I see her, I'll say things to hurt her. I don't know if I'd be able to stop yelling at her."

"But, Tan, she - "

"I know! I know she deserves it for what she did, but... I can't do that." I sheepishly looked up at my best friend. "I love her." Aya wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly.

"I know you do," she whispered. So did she.

"Aya.." I said helplessly as she pulled away.

"I thought we weren't mentioning that again?" She grinned and playfully wagged her finger at me. She stood and walked towards the door. "And if my Tan doesn't want to see someone, well, then, my Tan doesn't have to see them!" she declared before flinging the door open. It was then that I saw her.

In the split second it took for Aya to move through the open door, I saw her. Sitting on the couch, looking at the floor, her blonde hair pulled back in a sloppy ponytail. God, she was so beautiful.

She looked up.

Our eyes met.

And the door shut.

I wanted forget everything, but I just couldn't.

part 7

part 9

"memory" - part 7

2007-11-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

YOSSY - AUGUST 22ND

I woke up feeling refreshed, calm, sane, and - most importantly - not hung over.

I felt like myself again.

I'm not going to lie - I was still a wreck over what had happened. I still couldn't believe that I would sleep with Maki - even if I did think Miki was off with Aya. Every time I'd start to think maybe I was overreacting, I'd remember a little bit more of that night. Like her hands around my waist, holding my naked body against her...

But, I wasn't about to let myself go into a tailspin because of Goto Maki again.

I walked into the living room and smiled a little in spite of myself. I walked over to the couch and sat down on the floor next to it. I leaned my head against the cushions and stared at my sleeping friend, our faces only centimeters apart. Ayaka opened her eyes almost immediately. I felt guilty at the worried expression that appeared as soon as she saw me.

"Hey," I said sheepishly. She smiled, the relief apparent on her face.

"Morning," Ayaka replied. Her eyes searched mine. "How are you?"

"Better."

"Better?" She repeated. I nodded and moved back so she could get up without hitting me.

"Dealing with it." I sighed. "It helps that I don't have a raging headache and feel like I'm going to puke every five seconds." Ayaka laughed a little and sat up. "I'm sorry about yesterday."

"Why?"

"No one should have to see me like that."

"Yocchan." She reached over and grabbed my chin, leaning forward until our noses were almost touching. "You're my best friend and I love you."

"I know, but - "

"But nothing." Her smile was so warm, I couldn't help but return it.

"Thanks," I finally said.

"Anytime," she replied as she released me.

part 6

part 8

"memory" - part 6

2007-11-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

YOSSY - AUGUST 21ST

Aibon's childish voice woke me from my dreamless sleep. It took me a second to realize that I had not gone back in time like I'd hoped, but was just hearing my "I WISH" ringtone.

I quickly answered before Maki's part.

"Hello?"

"YOSHIZAWA HITOMI!" The hell?

"...Makoto?"

"DAMN STRAIGHT IT'S MAKOTO!" she bellowed angrily. I held the phone away from my ear and winced while she yelled.

"Please stop yelling in my ear," I said once she'd stopped.

"What, are you still hung over?" Makoto asked. What?!

"Why would you think I'm hung over?" I asked carefully. She laughed.

"Because I just had to shell out a whole lot of money to keep your happy ass out of the papers. And everyone knows that when you're drunk, your wandering hands put everyone to shame." I laughed a little in spite of myself.

"Come on, I'm not that bad." I sat straight up in bed as my brain caught up with what I'd just heard. "Wait, WHAT?!"

"Yeah, next time you decide to stumble drunkenly out of a bar with your hand up Goto's shirt, do us all a favor and look around for reporters, ok? That scoop was so big that I literally had to pay to shut it up. You owe me around a million yen, by the way."

"Oh God, you're kidding. Tell me you're joking," I groaned, flopping back onto my pillow.

"No, I'm not joking. I'm a poor college student now. Pay up."

"Yocchan?" I glanced up and saw Ayaka peeking her head into my room. "Everything ok?"

"Yeah, it's just Makoto," I replied. Makoto laughed in my ear.

"Maybe I should make you pay double so I don't show the pictures to Fujimoto," she commented. I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. Oh, God, Miki..

Ayaka must have noticed the change in my demeanor, because she walked over to the bed and stuck her hand out for the phone.

"It's fine," I said quietly.

"I can talk to her if you want. I don't mind - "

"I'm not a child! I can handle a simple phone conversation!" I snapped.

"Yocchan, I'm just trying to help," Ayaka sighed.

"Yoshizawa?" Makoto said quietly in my ear. "Is everything ok?" The concern in her voice, the pity in Ayaka's eyes, the memory of Miki's face before she left... I could feel my emotions start to overwhelm me again. Wordlessly, I thrust the phone at Ayaka. I was shaking as I tried to keep from falling apart in front of her again.

"Tell her," I managed to choke out. Ayaka understood and quickly left the room. As she shut the door, I grabbed Miki's pillow and covered my face with it to muffle my sobs.

The pillow still smelled like her.

part 5

part 7

"memory" - part 5

2007-11-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

I was pissed.

I tried to hide it, but I know Miki could tell. She'd known me too long and too well not to. Why was Tan so upset? Why did she walk all the way over here? What the hell, Yossy, did you break up with her just because she kissed me?!

I silently led Miki over to my couch and prepared myself for a blunt, sarcastic tirade against all things Yoshizawa. She looked like she'd just run a marathon, so I handed her my glass of tea which she gratefully gulped. I looked at her expectantly, but she just set the glass back down and looked around my living room.

"Oh, did you buy a new DVD player?" she finally said. My jaw dropped.

"Uh, yeah, my old one started making weird noises... Tan, what's going on?"

"Hmm? Oh, right. Yocchan never came home last night," she said offhandedly like she was talking about the weather. "She showed up this morning and, well, long story short, she got really drunk and slept with Maki. So, she told me and I left."

I gaped at her in disbelief. Oh, God, what have I done? I knew teasing Miki like that would make her react and I did it anyway. I never wanted them to... I never imagined Yossy would... And now poor Miki's... Oh, God...

"You're kidding," I said in a low voice, almost lost in my own guilt.

"No, not at all," she replied, looking at her nails. "Wow, I really need to get my nails done again." Alarmed, I jerked out of my self-loathing and looked closely at Miki. She didn't look angry, sad, upset, anything. She didn't even look bored. She... didn't look like she was really here.

"So what did you say to her?" I asked cautiously.

"Who?" Miki replied. What!? "Oh. Nothing."

"Nothing?" I repeated.

"Yeah. I just left." I started to feel a little scared.

"...Miki, are you ok?" My voice was shaking a little as I asked the question. I'd never seen Miki like this before. She was so calm, so detached from everything.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fantastic. My girlfriend got smashed and fucked Goto because I'm stupid and accidentally made her think I was banging you. Couldn't be better." She picked up the glass off of the coffee table and finished off the tea before turning to me and grinning. "Would you mind if I used your shower? I'm all kinds of gross over here."

Shocked and confused, I just gestured helplessly at my bathroom door. I watched her stand up, whistling tunelessly to herself, and walk into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. As soon as I heard the shower turn on, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell, angrily smashing the keys as I dialed.

"We're sorry. The customer you are trying to reach is out of area. Please try your call again later. Thank you." Dammit, that's right. Goto went to freaking Korea.

I shoved the phone back in my pocket and sat there thoughtfully. I was pretty sure Maki had feelings for Yoshizawa... But, then again, who didn't...

I really didn't think she'd try to break them up, though, especially not like this... But... how drunk was Yossy anyway? I never thought she'd cheat on Miki like this... even if she did think Miki was...

Ugh, this is all my fault if you get right down to it. Why did I tell Miki that Yossy was the better kisser? I did it just to tease her... I knew she was going to react like that...

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and glanced down at my watch. That's weird. Miki usually takes pretty quick showers, but she's been in there for over an hour.

My heart dropped. Miki wouldn't have... I mean, she's acting weird, but she wouldn't try to... Oh, God, what if she's done something crazy.

Panicked, I sprung to my feet and raced over to the bathroom door. I knocked once and opened the door.

"Miki...?" I said softly, looking around the steamy bathroom. She was sitting on the floor of the shower, her back to the door, holding her knees to her chest, and rocking slowly back and forth. I almost collapsed with relief when I spotted her. She looked a mess, but she was alive. Cursing my overactive imagination, I walked slowly over to her, grabbing a towel on the way. I opened the glass door and turned the shower off. She was staring straight ahead, tears falling unheeded down her face.

Gently, I placed the towel around her shaking shoulders. I knelt down on the floor behind her and wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly as she cried, wishing I could take away all of the pain I'd caused. I leaned my forehead against her damp hair and blinked away my own tears.

Silently, we stayed like that for some time.

part 4

part 6

"memory" - part 4

2007-11-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

MIKI - AUGUST 21ST

Aya was pissed.

As soon as she saw how upset I was, realized how far I'd walked, she was pissed off. I could tell even though she was trying her best to hide it from me.

But, it was strange. As Aya gently led me over to her couch, it was like all of my emotion left. And I was suddenly very calm.

I was still aware of being angry. I was aware of being hurt more than I'd ever been in my life, but... I didn't feel it. It was like I wasn't really there, like I was watching myself.

I watched myself take the iced tea Aya offered and take a long drink. I guess I was dehydrated from walking so far in the late August sun. I watched myself set the glass down on the table and begin telling Aya in a matter-of-fact tone how the woman I've been infatuated with since I was 15 had just cheated on me with her ex. The same ex who completely destroyed her when they broke up. The same ex who slapped me across the face when everyone thought I'd cheated on Yossy.

Aya stared at me. She was horrified. She was shocked. She was looking at me strangely.

"So what did you say to her?" she asked slowly.

"Who?" I watched myself reply. She gaped at me. "Oh. Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yeah. I just left." For some reason, this made Aya even more alarmed.

"...Miki, are you ok?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fantastic. My girlfriend got smashed and fucked Goto because I'm stupid and accidentally made her think I was banging you. Couldn't be better," I watched myself say non-chalantly before picking up the glass and taking another sip of tea. Ah, that was better. I watched myself grin sheepishly at Aya. "Would you mind if I used your shower? I'm all kinds of gross over here."

For some reason, Aya still looked freaked out. She gestured at her bathroom door and I watched myself walk in and shut the door behind me. I watched myself turn on Aya's small shower, strip, open the glass door, and step inside. As the hot water poured over my body, I slowly came back to myself. I blinked and looked around, as though I didn't know what I was doing there. I sank to the floor and hugged my knees to my chest. I'm not sure when it was that I started crying again.

Some time later - I'm not sure how long, but the water had started to run cold - the door opened. I felt the water turn off and a soft towel placed around me. Aya's warm arms encircled my tired frame and she leaned her head against mine.

Silently, we stayed like that for some time.

part 3

part 5

New poll!

2007-11-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

Since I'm not posting a chapter today, I put a new poll up!
The last option's just a joke - I'm pretty set on the ending as it stands now. XD

"memory" - part 3

2007-11-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

AYAKA - AUGUST 21ST

I stared at my cell phone. Should I or shouldn't I...

On one hand, Mai did sound pretty worried.

But on the other hand, even if they were fighting, they've probably made up by now and I really do not want to interrupt that... again.

But then again, Mai did ask me to call since she was about to get on the plane for Hokkaido...

I sighed, flipped my phone open, pressed #4 on my speed-dial, and leaned back in my chair to wait. She answered on the first ring.

"Miki!?"

"...Yocchan?" I asked slowly. I'd never heard her like this before.

"Oh." She sighed heavily. "Ayaka, what's up?"

"You tell me." Yossy gave a short, obviously forced laugh.

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound casual. And failing miserably.

"Um, hi. It's Ayaka. Your best friend? Who knows you very well?" She sighed again.

"Miki left."

"What do you mean Miki left? Where'd she go?"

"I don't know," she groaned. "She said she didn't know either."

"What? Yocchan, what on earth happened? Did Miki - "

"I did something really, really, really stupid," she cut me off. Her voice sounded strange.

"What happened?" There was a long pause. She sniffed once and cleared her throat.

"I really don't think I can talk about it right now." Alarmed, I sat bolt upright.

"...Yoshiko, are you crying?"

"Ayaka, I said I can't talk about it right now, ok?" Oh my God, she was crying.

"I'll be there in five minutes," I said, already on my feet and heading for the door.

"No, Ayaka, really, I don't need - "

"That wasn't a question," I replied. I snapped my phone shut before she could protest further and walked out my front door.

The door was unlocked and the apartment was dark and quiet. Cautiously, I walked through the front door. I paused to remove my shoes and lock the door behind me. One of Miki's dogs ran up to me excitedly, then sunk away in disappointment when it saw who I was.

"Yocchan?" I said quietly as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

"Yeah?" she replied. I turned in the direction of her voice and found her sitting on the couch. She was slumped over a little, with her blonde hair hanging down over her face like a curtain. Her arms lay limply at her sides, her cell phone loosely sitting in her right hand. She looked like a broken doll.

"Your door was unlocked," I explained, slowly walking over to her and sitting down next to her. She didn't move.

"Oh. Miki must not have locked it," she replied flatly. I looked at her carefully, trying to figure out what to do, how to help, what in the world had happened. I gently reached out and touched her forearm.

"Yossy?" She finally lifted her head up and looked at me. Her beautiful eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying. She looked exhausted and absolutely drained.

"I walked in on Miki and Aya kissing," she said in a detached matter-of-fact tone. My eyes widened.

"Why did - "

"It was just a misunderstanding," she continued emotionlessly. "Miki was just being Miki. But..." She sighed heavily. "I didn't think about that at the time." She turned her head away from me and stared blankly into the darkness. "I got drunk. I don't think I've ever gotten that drunk in my life. I don't even really remember anything after the first couple of drinks, honestly..." she trailed off. "I woke up this morning and..." she swallowed hard. She took a shaky breath. "And I... I..."

Abruptly, she stood up and strode over to the kitchen, flicking on the light and blinding me. She grabbed something out of her purse and thrust it into my hands as she sat back down next to me. She leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling briefly before closing her eyes. I slowly opened the crumpled note and read the words in Goto's familiar handwriting.

Oh, God.

"Is there maybe a chance you're misunderstanding this?" I asked hopefully. She gave a short, humorless laugh and opened her eyes again.

"Even if I ignore the fact that I was basically naked in her bed this morning, I do vaguely remember Maki taking my bra off." Her voice was calm and even, but I could see the tears slowly falling one by one and trickling down her cheeks.

"Do you think Miki will..." I trailed off as she lifted her head up and turned to gaze straight into my eyes. She was in so much blatant pain that it hurt to look at her.

"Ayaka, how can I ask her to forgive me when I know I'll never forgive myself?" She knew I couldn't answer her, but her eyes pleaded for a solution.

"I don't know," I said finally as I tore my eyes away from hers. It was just too painful to look at any longer.

part 2

part 4

"memory" - part 2

2007-11-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

MIKI - AUGUST 21ST

It was after I left that I realized I hadn't even grabbed my own keys. I hadn't grabbed anything of mine. My wallet, my purse, my toothbrush, my clothes, my heart, my sanity... everything was still there. Part of me wanted to go back, but I knew if I did, I might not be strong enough to leave again. And I knew I couldn't keep myself from screaming, demanding, crying, pleading...

I couldn't go back, so I started walking.

I wanted to pretend none of this had ever happened. I wanted to turn around and walk back in the door. To run into her arms and tell her that I loved her and nothing else mattered.

But I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Yocchan, was she better than me? Did she make you lose that cool front you try so hard to maintain? Did she tease you to the point that you became almost irritated? Did she know what would make you moan? What would make you cry out? What would make you beg for more? Did you think of me during it? ...have you been thinking of her?

Did you touch her the way you touch me?

But I could never ask her these questions. Because I could never bear to hear the answers.

I don't think I could bear much more of anything anymore.

I walked and walked, and when I thought I couldn't go any further, I kept walking. When I finally stopped, I looked up at the building before me. Without realizing it, I'd come here, but really, where else was I going to go.

Aya took one look at my sweat-drenched, tear-stained face and let me inside without a word.

part 1

part 3

"memory" - part 1

2007-11-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

YOSSY - AUGUST 21ST

Apparently our team plays really well when Miki and I are pissed off. Either that or they all sensed I wasn't all there and they compensated by kicking ass. It was almost funny how well Miki and I could fake normalcy on the field. As soon as we got into the locker room, the smiles and chat were gone. I gave our coach a grateful look when he gave the post-game pep talk for me. But the entire team was eyeing me and Miki warily.

"Ready?" Miki asked me suddenly. She was holding her futsal bag and looking at me expectantly. I nodded and went to get my things.

We drove home together in complete silence.

Miki walked ahead of me into the apartment, leaving me to shut the door behind us. I took a deep breath.

"Miki, I - "

"First, let's get something clear," she interrupted. "I didn't just up and abandon the group. It was planned. I discussed it with the three most senior members before I did it. I thought you understood that, but apparently not."

"I know," I sighed and sat down on the couch. "I shouldn't have said that. I just - "

"And I know you're pissed off about yesterday," she cut me off again. "And I'm sorry about that. It was stupid. Like I said, I went to talk to Aya even though you said I shouldn't. Then I got annoyed when she said you were the better kisser and some retarded part of my brain told me to prove her wrong."

"I really should have known it was something like that," I replied sadly. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

"uh... Right," Miki replied, sounding a bit confused at my reaction. She sat down next to me. "So, are we ok?"

"I don't know," I answered. I didn't know if I could even say the words. I hated myself so much. How could I ever expect her to not hate me? But I had to tell her. I couldn't live with myself otherwise.

"You don't know?"

"Miki, I got drunk last night. Really, really drunk."

"Oh my God, did someone see you?" she exclaimed. "Can't Makoto pay them off or something?"

"No, it's not that," I sighed. "I've never been that drunk in my entire life."

"You get pretty handsy when you're drunk. Did you get arrested for groping some stranger?!" She grinned. God, she was so beautiful. I wanted to lie and kiss her and hold her and keep her smiling like that forever.

"You're not making this easy, you know that?" I gave a half-hearted smile.

"That's because I'm pretty sure I don't want to hear what you're trying to tell me," she replied quietly. Our eyes met.

"I slept with Maki." The words hung in the air between us. I wanted to take them back, to make them not true, to pretend the last 24 hours had never happened.

Miki said nothing. She simply nodded and stood up. She calmly walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed the keys that were lying there.

"Miki?" She didn't reply. She walked over to the door and put her shoes on. "Miki!" She paused with her hand on the door knob, but didn't turn around.

"I - " She took a shaky breath to steady herself. "I can't talk to you right now." She seemed to be deliberately forcing each word out. "Because I don't want to hurt you." Her voice cracked on the last word. "Because I love you."

"Are we over?" I asked quietly even though I didn't want to hear the answer.

"I don't know." She opened the front door.

"Where are you going?" I asked desperately. I wanted to grab her and stop her from leaving, to beg her to not go anywhere. She turned and smiled at me. There were tears streaming down her face.

"I don't know."

part 29 ("100% Kataomoi")

part 2

"memory"

2007-11-11T07:40:00.014-07:00

"memoir"
table of contents

"memory" is the final installment of the "memoir" trilogy, so I would strongly suggest reading "memoir" and "100% Kataomoi" first.
This a work-in-progress.

part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5
part 6
part 7
part 8
part 9
part 10
part 11
part 12
part 13
part 14
part 15
part 16
part 17
part 18
part 19
part 20

part 21
part 22
part 23
part 24
part 25
part 26
part 27
part 28
part 29
part 30
part 31
part 32
part 33
part 34
part 35
part 36

memoir | 100% Kataomoi | memory

"100% Kataomoi" part 29

2007-11-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

YOSHIZAWA - AUGUST 21ST

I stood outside my front door for about ten minutes before I mustered up the courage enough to go inside. I still didn't know what I was going to do when I saw Miki.

Actually, I didn't even know if Miki would be here. She had run after me, but... after that, maybe she went back to the dressing room... and she and Aya had...

Oh, God, I don't want to think about that.

I stepped inside our home and glanced around. I saw her almost immediately. She was sitting in one of the chairs at the kitchen table, her head propped up by her left arm. Her long hair falling over her face sparkled in the morning sun peeking through the windows. She'd never looked so beautiful to me as she did in that moment. And I'd never hated myself more.

She opened her eyes when I shut the door behind me. She blinked a couple of times and looked around in confusion before her eyes settled on my figure in the doorway. I quickly looked away.

"Yocchan?" she called. By reflex, I looked over at her. I could feel my emotions starting to overwhelm me. I quickly turned away and walked towards the bathroom. "Yossy, please, wait!" The chair scraped against the floor and she ran over to me, grabbing my arm. "I'm sorry, I really am, but it's not what you think. I was just being stupid. Aya doesn't even have a thing for me! She has a crush on you! She tried to say you were the better kisser and, well, I got mad and I'm really sorry but, isn't that funny?" She laughed uncertainly. Of course. Of course it was something so stupid and pointless and... God, what a Miki thing to do.

I wanted to throw up. I wanted to grab her by her shoulders and shake her, demand to know what was so funny about what had happened. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hold her close, never letting her go, never telling her anything, silencing her questions with kisses. I wanted to blurt out everything, listen to her scream at me, beg her for forgiveness. I wanted to never feel this stupid, this dirty again.

"I need a shower," I finally managed to say. I walked into the bathroom and quietly shut the door behind me.

I was about to lose it. I took a deep breath and turned the shower on just in time to cover my uncontrollable sobbing. I stripped off the clothes I'd taken from Maki's. I threw them carelessly on the floor, wishing I could burn them.

On top of all of this, we had a futsal game in less than two hours. I had to get it together at least long enough to make it through that. I stepped under the forgiving stream of water and tried to calm down. I hugged my chest as I let the water streaming down my face mix with my tears.

"What's going on?" I jumped at the sound of her voice. I opened my mouth to reply, but realized I had nothing I could say to her. We didn't have time to get into it right now.

"I..." I had nothing to say.

"Where were you last night?" she asked slowly, as though she was dreading the reply. I flinched at the question. "Yossy...." Please don't ask me. Please, can't we pretend none of this ever happened? Maybe it didn't happen. Maybe I was reading too much into Maki's words. Maybe she was just...

Then the memory slapped me in the face. Maki, laughing in a low tone, looking right into my eyes and smirking as she ran her hands up my back and unhooked my bra. Oh, God...

I shook my head to clear the memory away and turned the shower off. I would never get clean now.

end.

part 28

part 1 - "memory"

-----------------------------------------------------
Yes, this is the final part of "100% Kataomoi". Before you hunt me down, the final part of the "memoir" trilogy starts up after the futsal game.
Basically, I changed the direction of the ending a little as I was writing, and I decided it needed its own section since the direction of the plot just took a 180.
And yes, if anyone's wondering, I'm totally doing the wahaha right now. XD

"100% Kataomoi" part 28

2007-11-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

FUJIMOTO - AUGUST 21ST

I woke up when I heard the door close.

"Yocchan?" I called. She looked over at me and quickly turned away and walked towards the bathroom. "Yossy, please, wait!" I pleaded, running over and grabbing her arm. "I'm sorry, I really am, but it's not what you think. I was just being stupid. Aya doesn't even have a thing for me! She has a crush on you! She tried to say you were the better kisser and, well, I got mad and I'm really sorry but, isn't that funny?" My awkward laughter echoed in the silence.

"I need a shower," she said quietly after a moment, moving out of my grasp and shutting the bathroom door behind her.

I looked at the closed door and shook my head. I heard her take a ragged breath before the shower was abruptly turned on. Something weird was going on. This wasn't angry Yoshizawa. This was... strange. And where did she get those clothes anyway? I hesitated for a minute with my hand on the doorknob before opening the bathroom door.

Barely masked by the steam on the clear curtain, Yossy was standing in the shower, hugging her chest protectively, letting the water run down her face. Her entire body shook as she took a deep breath and let it out.

"What's going on?" I said at last. She jumped at the sound of my voice. She opened her mouth to say something, then seemed to change her mind and closed it. "Are you okay?" I asked quietly.

"I..." she trailed off.

"Where were you last night?" She flinched. I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach. "Yossy..." She shook her head and abruptly turned the shower off.

"We have a game," she said quietly, grabbing her towel and tightly wrapping it around herself. She walked past me and stood in front of the mirror.

"I don't give a crap," I replied flatly. "They can play without us. You need to tell me what's going on."

"Unlike some people, I don't just abandon my responsibilities whenever it suits me," she snapped, picking up her toothbrush. "I have a game today, so I'm going to play in the damn game. As the captain, I'd appreciate it if you'd have the decency to show up as well."

My jaw dropped. She didn't even look up and brushed her teeth as though nothing had happened. Frozen in shock, I just stared as she brushed, rinsed, and spat. She glanced up and met my eye in the mirror.

"...I'm sorry," she sighed. I gave a short, humorless laugh.

"No, you're not," I replied, stalking out of the bathroom. I grabbed my futsal bag and threw it over my shoulder.

"Miki!"

"Fuck off, Yoshizawa." I slammed the front door behind me and walked out into the sunlight to hail a taxi.

part 27

part 29

"100% Kataomoi" part 27

2007-11-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

YOSHIZAWA - AUGUST 21ST

I woke up with the worst headache of my life. You know it's bad when you don't remember how many drinks you had because you forgot how to count that high during your binge.

I instinctively rolled over and reached for Miki. Oh. Right. I didn't go home last night. The memories flooded back of Miki grabbing Aya... Miki kissing Aya... ugh... ...wait. If I didn't go home last night, then where the hell am I?!

The panicked thought made me sit straight up in bed. I instantly regretted my kneejerk reaction when I almost fell over again from my hangover. I looked around the somewhat familiar room. Oh! Oh, that's right. I ran into Maki last night. I laughed a little in relief. Thank goodness she found me and not a reporter. "FORMER MO MUSU LEADER ON DRUNKEN BENDER" or something.

I rubbed my dry eyes and glanced over at the nightstand to see what time it was. In front of the clock proclaiming 8:17 am, there was a folded piece of paper with my name on it. Well, that would explain why the apartment was so quiet. Maki must've left already. I absentmindedly wondered if she still kept the aspirin in the same place as I picked up the note.

"Yocchan <3

Hope you slept well. After last night, you're probably having trouble walking! Ha ha!
Speaking of last night... don't worry about it, ok? It doesn't mean anything. I know you and Miki are together for the long haul. So, don't even give it another thought. <3
Next time, though, don't bother with the bar - just come straight here, all right? I won't tell Miki. ^_-
Anyway, I'm off to Korea for a few days! I left the spare keys on the kitchen counter, so just lock up when you leave.
-Maki-

PS - I put your clothes in with the laundry I sent out this morning. I'll give them to you when I get back."

I read the note about five times. Each time, I hoped to get a different meaning out of it. About midway through the last reading, I realized I was completely naked except for one of Maki's old t-shirts.

Well, at least the PS makes sense now, I thought bitterly to myself before I went into the bathroom and threw up.

part 26

part 28

"100% Kataomoi" part 26

2007-11-08T04:49:00.000-07:00

FUJIMOTO - AUGUST 20TH

Why. Am. I. So. Stupid.

I'm not always, actually. I go along for months and months doing fine, but I guess the stupidity is just building up, waiting to come out in one giant screw up.

Who cares if Aya thinks Yocchan's a better kisser. Couldn't my stupid pride take that one hit and let it go? For crying out loud, I'd probably agree with her.

Dammit.

Her car was parked in its normal spot when I got home, but she was nowhere to be found.

I called her cell phone repeatedly. The first few times, it rang and rang. Then she must have turned it off, because it just went straight to voice mail. Clenching my jaw, I immediately began dialing everyone I could think of - Ayaka, Mai, Rika... hell, I even called Makoto for good measure. I left voice mails for a few people, but most everyone answered. No one knew where she was. Everyone promised to send her home if they saw her.

I think the dogs knew something was wrong. An-kun was avoiding me, and I swear he gave me a dirty look from his perch on the arm of the couch. Hima-chan kept pestering me until I picked her up. I sat down at the kitchen table in the chair that faces the front door and placed Hima-chan on my lap. And I waited.

About an hour later, the sudden new mail alert on my phone scared me half to death. I frantically scrambled to open my phone.

Hope everything's ok by now.
If you need me to back you up, just tell me.
I'd even do a DOKI DOKI love confession. Just for you Tan. ^^
I really am sorry about all this.
Ayayayayayayayaya

I sighed and hit reply.

I can't find her.
She's not answering her phone.
No one's seen her.
I'll let you know if there's an update.
Mikitty

I flipped my phone shut again and went back to waiting.

I finally fell asleep shortly after dawn. She'd never come home.

part 25

part 27

"100% Kataomoi" part 25

2007-11-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

MATSUURA - AUGUST 20TH

I glanced up and smiled at Miki's reflection in the dressing room mirror. I picked up the lip gloss and started applying it.

"We need to talk," she said in a serious voice. Surprised, I turned around.

"Ok..." I replied cautiously. "Is everything all right?"

"I know."

"You know what?"

"I know about your little crush. Yocchan told me." My eyes widened.

"What?! How did she even find out?" I panicked. Dammit. I'd thought I'd been fairly good at hiding it.

"She said she figured it out a while ago and just never said anything. She only told me because of the cell phone incident yesterday," Miki replied. I groaned and stood up.

"I'm sorry. I probably should have just told you myself, but I didn't want to cause unnecessary drama, you know?" I grabbed Miki's hand. "Seriously, it's just a stupid crush. I'm not going to act on it or anything, I swear."

"When did this start, though?" Miki replied, looking a bit uncomfortable. I thought for a moment.

"Probably when we kissed."

"Which time?"

"Huh?" I looked at her in confusion. "She's only ever kissed me once."

"...wait, what?" Miki looked just as confused as I was. We stared at each other in silence for a minute.

"Hold on, what exactly did Yossy tell you?" I finally asked.

"Yossy said you had a thing for me. She said you keep acting weird and blushing when she talks about me."

"YOU!?" I squealed with laughter. "Tan, I love you, but no."

"Who were you talking about then?" Miki demanded.

"Yossy!" I laughed. "I'm blushing because when she talks about you, she's usually making innuendos about her having sex. And, well, you know how my mind works"

"Wait - you have a crush on MY Yocchan!?" Miki exclaimed.

"Hey, so do you!" I protested. This threw her for a moment. "Besides, I think just about anyone would if she kissed them like that."

"...But I've kissed you like that before."

"Are you annoyed now that it's not you?" I asked.

"Not annoyed exactly," Miki corrected. "I'm just - "

"She's a better kisser, ok?" I retorted. "Now can we please never mention this again?"

"Wait, WHAT!?" Miki exclaimed. I glanced over her shoulder and saw Yossy walk by the open door. She must have seen us because she paused and peeked in with a mischievous grin. She winked at me and put a finger to her lips.

She walked in the room just as my best friend grabbed me by the waist and kissed me hard. Helpless to stop it, I could only watch Yossy's face as it changed from happiness to shock to horror to something I can't even describe. I can now honestly say that I've actually seen someone's heart break. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget that expression on her face. I pushed Miki off of me.

"It's not what you think!!" I called out, but it was too late; she was gone. Miki turned around and looked at the empty room in confusion.

"Who are you - "

"Your girlfriend just saw that!" I yelled. The color drained from Miki's face and she sprinted out of the room. I sighed and sank back down into the chair.

A few minutes later, Miki walked slowly back into my room.

"Did you catch her?" I asked. She shook her head.

"No, she was already in the car by the time I reached her."

I sighed. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for - "

"It's not your fault," she interrupted me. "I screwed up. You just happened to be there."

"Gee, thanks," I said dryly. She gave me a look.

"You know what I mean. Don't be all dramatic about it."

"You know what I mean, though!" I protested. "You came here to talk to me about my... feelings and - "

"I thought we weren't mentioning that again?" Miki cut me off. I stuck my tongue out at her. She returned the gesture and walked over to the window.

"Um, shouldn't you go after her?" I asked.

"Yeah, but she's really mad. I'm not sure what to say or do, so..." she trailed off.

"Just blame it on me," I suggested, coming up behind her and giving her a big hug. "Just say I'm the one who - "

"She saw," she interrupted again. "She knows I initiated it."

"Are you going to ever let me finish a sentence?" I grumbled, releasing her.

"I just did, didn't I?" Miki sighed and flicked her reflection in the glass. "Miki, you idiot."

part 24

part 26

So... what do you think?

2007-11-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

I really am interested in knowing how my foreshadowing and deliberate attempts at misleading readers are playing out in "100%", so I'd like to know
What do you think is going to happen?

The big drama is going to hit really soon, so I'm very curious. ^^

Please reply or IM me (AIM: iloveyossy | Y!: lock.almond | MSN: yossyfan@hotmail.com) or something. LOL

"100% Kataomoi" part 24

2007-11-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

FUJIMOTO - AUGUST 19TH

First, let me say that I don't get bored when I'm home alone. I prefer being home to being out and I don't really mind being alone that much.

However.

I've noticed I tend to get a little... mischievous when I'm home alone, especially lately since I'm not working much. And when I'm feeling mischievous, I take out my cell phone and start sending my darling Yocchan interesting messages. If I know she's going to have her phone turned off because of work, I tend to do it twice as much so she gets flooded with interesting messages as soon as she turns it back on.

When the movie I was watching ended, I decided today was a mischievous day. I knew Yossy was at a photoshoot, so she'd have her phone turned off and in her purse.

Hey, remember on that boat in Hong Kong when you reenacted the Titanic scene with me for the cameras? ^^
You do realize if there hadn't been cameras there, you would have been naked, on your back, and moaning before you'd had a chance to blink, right?
Just a thought <3
=Daydreaming Mikitty=

I just got a craving for some sushi.
Could you pick some up on the way home?
Oh and I'll be using you as a plate.
<3 <3 <3
=Hungry Mikitty=

I just realized we haven't had quality closet time in a while.
Quality bed time, yes, but closet time, no.
Hmm.
I think I'm feeling nostalgic.
Consider yourself warned. ^_-
=Plotting Mikitty=

Speaking of nostalgic~
You. Naked. Hawaii. Hot.
That's all.
=Nostalgic Mikitty=

And speaking of Hawaii!
When exactly did you buy my Alo-Hello?
I just noticed this is first press~~
=Investigative Mikitty=

Ha ha, I just got a chain mail from Korenaga.
You know the ones with all the personal questions?
Looks like she sent it to Gatas.
"Where's the most interesting place you've had sex?"
Should I put 'Gatas locker room'?
=Mischievous Mikitty=

Actually, would that even been the most interesting?
On the set of Hello! Morning was pretty damn daring...
Actually, didn't we do it behind that set piece onstage right before a concert?
Yeah, 'cause we almost got stuck out there because the audience had started coming in. XD
God, I miss you. Come home soon so I can jump you.
=Lonely Mikitty=

The door opened just as I hit send on the last message. I glanced up in surprise.

"You're home early!" I said happily as Yossy took her shoes off and walked over to give me a kiss.

"Yeah, there was a power outage in the studio. We're going to have to finish tomorrow," she replied, plopping down next to me. "Oh, Aya says hi. She was there too."

"Oh, that's nice..." I trailed off, looking at her expectantly.

"What?" she asked, picking up An-kun and scratching behind his ear.

"Didn't you get my messages?"

"Messages?" She stared at me blankly for a minute before grabbing her purse from where she'd laid it on the floor. She pulled out her phone and glanced at it. "I don't have any messages."

"What!?" I took the phone from her and flipped it open. "uh... Yossy, this isn't your phone."

"What do you mean?" she asked, leaning over and taking it back right as someone knocked on the front door. I walked over to answer it while Yossy stared at the phone in confusion. I peeked through the peephole and grinned.

"I mean," I said as I opened the door. "It's Aya's." I gestured at my best friend standing in the doorway. I paused and looked at her closely. "Why's your face red?"

"Uh... nothing. I, uh, I think this is Yossy's," Aya muttered, handing the phone to me.

"We must have gotten them mixed up when we knocked into each other during the power outage," Yossy laughed, walking over and handing Aya her phone.

"Right. Um, I've gotta go." Aya, still a bit red, turned and walked swiftly down the hall.

"What was that?" I muttered as I shut the door. Yossy glanced up from her phone with a weird look on her face.

"She probably read these thinking they were for her," she said slowly.

"Really? That's hilarious," I laughed. Yossy made a face.

"You have no idea, do you?"

"What?"

"Miki, Aya has a crush on you."

"WHAT?!" I burst into giggles. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah," she groaned. "I noticed it a long time ago. She acts weird around you and keeps blushing when your name is mentioned - especially when it's about you and me, um - "

"Being sexy ue ue?"

"Exactly," Yossy grinned.

"Really?! Aya has a thing for me!?" I grinned. "I'm so calling her right - "

"No!" Yossy protested. I raised an eyebrow. "If she wanted you to know, she'd tell you. Just leave it alone."

"Yocchaaaaaan," I complained.

"Mikiiiiiiiii," she mimicked, making me laugh. Her eyes narrowed in that way that means I'm about to get in the best kind of trouble and she pushed me back against the wall, pinning me against it between her arms. "Now," she said in a low voice. "What's this I hear about you feeling nostalgic?"

part 23

part 25

"100% Kataomoi" part 23

2007-11-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

YOSHIZAWA - AUGUST 1ST

I leaned back in my chair and cooly looked over the man sitting uncomfortably across from me. Not only had he knocked up my cute Nono, but doing so had started a chain reaction of events that almost broke up me and my sexy Miki. Quite frankly, if I wanted to, I could easily say it was his fault that Miki Friday'd herself.

I think if I applied myself, I could probably think up a way to blame him for anything that has ever gone wrong in my life, now that I think about it.

He cleared his throat. I raised an eyebrow. "Um, so, Non tells me that you, uh, are leading a new group..."

"Mmm," I replied shortly. He looked around awkwardly. "She tells me that she just got back from her doctors appointment." He nodded. "And you weren't there why?"

"Oh, I wanted to, but, um, I had a previous business engagement. The appointment was originally for yesterday, but the doctor had to reschedule, so I - "

"Ah, so you were too busy. Were you too busy to buy condoms too?"

"Yocchan!" Rika all but flew to my side, out of breath.

"What!?" I asked, panicked. "Are you ok? Did something happen to Nono?"

"No!" she gasped. "I, uh, just worried you'd be lonely." I raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Tsuji half-waddled over and sat next to her husband. Ugh... 'husband'

"Oh, Ta-kun, you missed it," she smiled. "The baby was kicking earlier. Yocchin felt it."

"Tsuji, we were talking," I said in a low no-nonsense voice. She looked at me in surprise. Sugiura blinked and looked from me to Tsuji. "See!" I exclaimed. "Right there. Why didn't you stand up for her?"

"Yossy..." Rika groaned.

"Yossy, be nice!" Tsuji complained. "He used to have a crush on you." Sugiura groaned and started rubbing his forehead like he had a headache. I burst out laughing.

"You didn't tell me he was gay!" I snickered.

"Yocchan, do I need to call Miki?" Rika threatened. I laughed harder.

"Please, if I was Miki, the boy'd be on the ground in pain from being kneed in the crotch."

"Ok..." I looked up in surprise. The man speaketh. He looked me right in the eye. "I have tried to be polite because you're a friend of Non's and she really does respect you for some reason I really do not understand. Whether you like me or not is completely up to you and honestly, I don't really care. But the fact is that this is hurting her right now and I'm not going to just sit here and let you do that." I glanced over and saw Tsuji looking down at her hands. Crap. I got up and squatted down next to her chair.

"Nono?"

"Yeah?" She looked up from her hands.

"I'm sorry I'm such an ass." She laughed. I glanced over at her husband. "I'm still not happy about this, but I guess he'll do."

"Thanks, Yocchan," Tsuji smiled. "Hey, remember that time that Aibon and I spanked you on national television?"

"Why in the world are you bringing that up?" I asked incredulously.

"Just being random," she grinned.

part 22

part 24

"100% Kataomoi" part 22

2007-11-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

ISHIKAWA - AUGUST 1ST

I glanced over at Yossy and sighed.

"What?" she asked, glancing up from her menu.

"Aibon," I replied simply. She put her menu down and reached across the table to pat my hand.

"We did the best we could," she said quietly.

"We suck at parenting," I groaned. Yossy laughed and went back to her menu.

"So where's the oldest?" she asked.

"Doctor's appointment," I explained. "She said she'd be here as soon as she could." Yossy looked at me pointedly over her menu.

"Is HE coming?"

"No, HE is not coming," I mocked her. "And HE has a name, you know."

"Whatever. He knocked up my innocent little Nono."

"The same innocent little Nono who sent you a stripper for your 20th birthday?" I asked.

"Exactly," she said so firmly that I couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry I'm late~!" Tsuji exclaimed as she breezed over to our table. Well, as much as a very tiny pregnant woman can breeze. She grabbed the waiter's arm as she sat down and picked up the menu in one smooth motion. She glanced quickly at the menu and turned to the waiter. "I'd like this, this, this, this, and two of those. And a extra bowl of rice. Thanks."

"Pregnant women usually eat for two, not four," Yossy commented after she and I had ordered. Tsuji stuck her tongue out and sipped her water.

"So, Yochiko, what's this I hear about you shacking up with Fujimoto?" Tsuji grinned.

"Oh, are we back to 'Yochiko' again?" Yossy commented. Tsuji shrugged.

"I'm just not feeling the usual nicknames today."

"Ah. Well, better shacked up than knocked up," Yossy replied, leaning over to rub Tsuji's protruding belly.

"Yossy, if you got knocked up, I'd be seriously disturbed," I laughed.

"Yeah, listen to Mom over here," Tsuji giggled. Yossy gestured at Tsuji.

"Shouldn't that be Grandma?" she asked. I snorted with laughter.

"You're just happy you finally have an excuse for acting like a Grandpa. What, no jinbei today?"

"Yeah, you're wearing real clothes. Is Miki dressing you now?" Tsuji asked. "I'm not calling her Mommy! Even if you are living together now!!" Yossy looked like she couldn't decide between being alarmed and amused.

"So, how'd your doctors appointment go?" I asked. Tsuji sighed and leaned back in her chair.

"Good. I can actually feel the baby moving around now, which is surreal."

"Really?!" Yossy sat up at attention. "Any kicking yet?"

"Not very often," Tsuji replied. "Ta-kun's annoyed because the baby stops every time he puts his hand on my stomach."

"Kid's got good taste," Yossy snickered. She leaned over and put her hand on Tsuji's stomach. They both jumped a little and stared at one another.

"What?" I asked.

"The kid kicked me," Yossy laughed, rubbing the bump affectionately.

After dinner, I excused myself to use the ladies' room. When I was washing my hands, Tsuji waddled out of the stall next to mine.

"Feeling ok?" I asked. She nodded.

"Yeah. I think the baby just punched me in the bladder or something again," she shrugged and went to the sink next to me.

"So you left Yossy out there alone?" I asked.

"Oh, no. My husband showed up, so he's keeping her company," she replied.

"You're still getting used to that, aren't you?" I smiled affectionately at her. Tsuji blushed a little.

"Kind of, yeah." Suddenly a thought struck me and I grabbed Tsuji's arm in a panic.

"Wait. You left your husband out there alone with Yossy!?!" We exchanged a look and raced out of the bathroom.

part 21

part 23

Bwahaha

2007-11-03T20:03:00.000-06:00

I just finished writing the part of "100%" that has the prologue in it.
Yep.

Yeah, enjoy these funny fluff chapters while you can. Once the prologue shows up, it's gonna get real messy.

"100% Kataomoi" part 21

2007-11-03T11:17:00.000-06:00

YOSHIZAWA - JULY 12TH

I stared in horror at the wardrobe assistant.

"W-wait a second," I stammered finally. "I thought we were wearing the outfits from the cover. That's what we're using for the concert..."

"They decided to go for a darker look for the video," she replied, looking at me strangely. "Is there a problem?" I cleared my throat.

"Ah, well, the, uh, shorts are a bit shorter than I was expecting to wear, and..." I glanced around quickly before leaning over and whispering in the girl's ear. Her eyes widened.

"But how did you...?" She asked. I coughed uncomfortably and she clapped a hand over her mouth. "I'll see what I can do," she replied, trying not to laugh. I groaned and sat down in the nearby folding chair.

"Ah! ....Yoshizawa, good morning!" I smiled in spite of my new predicament.

"Morning, Konno," I replied. "How'd registration go?"

"Great! I got all but one class I wanted," Konno replied with a smile. She walked up to me and stared at me. "What's wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing, just thinking," I replied casually. "Have you - "

"Yoshizawa!" The assistant stuck her head back in the room. "We're gonna have you put make-up on it and give you some fishnets. Will that work?" I flushed and nodded. Konno raised an eyebrow as the assistant left again.

"Spill," she demanded. I groaned and adjusted myself on the chair before pulling up the hem of the right leg of my track shorts. Konno's eyes widened and she started laughing hysterically.

"What's so funny?" Rika asked, walking in with Mai. I quickly pulled the hem back down.

"Nothi-"

"Yoshizawa's got a hickey!" Konno cut me off.

"EH!?" Mai exclaimed, running over to us. She grabbed my chin and started examining my neck.

"Um, Mai?" I muttered as best I could with her death grip on my chin.

"I don't see anything," Rika complained from beside me. Konno held up a hand, signaling us to wait while she calmed down. They stared at her expectantly.

"It's not on her neck," Konno explained finally. The other two froze and and whipped their heads around to gape at me in unison.

"Let me see!" Mai exclaimed.

"Yeah, no. I'm not going to show it off to everyone who walks by," I retorted. Rika ran behind me and grabbed both of my arms, pinning them behind the chair.

"Konno, where is it?" Rika demanded.

"ISHIKAWA!" I yelled in protest.

"Right thigh!" Konno replied a bit too gleefully. Mai reached down and unceremoniously pulled up the hem.

"DAMN!" Mai exclaimed, sounding impressed. "You two have fun last night?" Rika leaned her head over my shoulder and peered down.

"Nice technique there, Fujimoto," she mused.

"Uh... what are you doing?" We all looked up to see Korenaga staring at us from the doorway.

"Kore!" Mai yelled, chucking her phone at the alarmed girl. "Take a picture!" Used to our antics by now, Korenaga shrugged and flipped open the cell phone.

"WHAT!?" I yelled, trying to break free from Rika's determined grasp. Mai squatted down next to me and made a Gets! gesture at the mark. Konno sat down on the floor on my other side and made a double v-sign. Rika rested her head on my shoulder and grinned.

"Ok, cheese!" Korenaga called. Rika kissed me on the cheek just as Korenaga took the photo. Mai jumped to her feet and grabbed her phone from Kore to survey the results.

"Oh, this is fantastic," Mai laughed and started pushing an alarming number of buttons on her phone.

"Mai... you're not sending that to anyone are you?" I asked in a low voice. Mai paused, looked at me, and laughed even harder. Narrowing my eyes, I reached my leg around and stepped on Rika's foot.

"OW!" she exclaimed, releasing me. Rika's exclamation alerted Mai to my escape and she took off down the hallway.

"GET BACK HERE, SATODA!" I yelled, taking off after her.

She was laughing so hard that it was slowing her down and I was quickly catching up with her. I had almost gotten close enough to grab her shirt when suddenly Mano Erina unknowingly stepped into the hall and right into my path. Thinking quickly, I managed to put my hands behind her head to protect it right before we made contact with the hard tile floor. She looked up at me in alarm.

"Are you ok?" I asked. She nodded. "Did you hit your head?"

"N-no, not really. I think I'm fine," she replied.

"Way to go there, Leader!" Mai snickered. I got up and glared at my friend while I helped the poor Egg off of the floor. Suddenly, my new mail alert sounded. I grabbed my phone and flipped it open.

y o c c h a n <3
Glad to see everyone's admiring my handiwork.
Maybe tonight, you'll get a matching one on the left side. ^_-
Waiting for you at home,
- m i k i -

I snapped my phone shut and glared at Mai. Mai glanced up from her own phone.

"Why did Miki just tell me to call you 'Tomiko'?"

part 20

part 22

"100% Kataomoi" part 20

2007-11-01T17:59:00.000-06:00

MATSUURA - JULY 9TH

I've noticed that sometimes in life, things suddenly seem to go in slow motion. Everything will be going along like normal and then you notice something and you can't do anything to stop it, but it seems like you're watching it at half-speed.

Ah, so this is one of those times..., I remember thinking to myself as Yossy slapped me across the face. Her eyes went really wide right before her hand made contact with my cheek and she immediately clapped her hands over her mouth afterwards. I sank to the floor in more shock than anything else.

"I am so sorry," Yossy gasped, squatting down next to me. I glared at her.

"Ayaya! Are you ok!?" Abe exclaimed behind us.

"Does this mean I get to knee you in the crotch now?" I asked with a sly grin. Yossy laughed a little.

"You'd have to clear that with Miki first," she retorted as she took a hold of my chin and examined my cheek critically. I could feel my face start to flush a little. Our eyes locked briefly and she quickly dropped her hand. "Sorry," she muttered and abruptly stood back up.

"Everything ok?" Abe asked, helping me up off the floor. I flashed her a Matsuura Aya Idol-Wattage smile.

"Great!" I replied. "I was just giving her a hard time." Abe flashed back her own Idol-Wattage smile. Yossy looked at the pair of us and shook her head.

"From the top again?" she asked.

"Uh, why don't we take it from after we stop beating on each other?" I suggested, rubbing my slightly sore cheek thoughtfully.

"I'm sorry!" Yossy groaned, walking back to her spot. "I thought it was left-right!"

"It IS left-right!" I laughed, getting into place myself.

"...what did I do then?"

"Left-left."

"Crap."

"Did that bleach go to your brain?" I asked, gesturing at her freshly-dyed blonde hair.

"Ok!" Abe broke in before Yossy could respond. "From the harmony part?" We nodded. "Ok! My count. 1! 2! 3! 4!"

We started bopping back and forth, swinging our arms and doing our best imitation of the original singers.

"100% kataomoi!" Abe sang.

"Baby I love you so, suki suki baby!" Yossy and I harmonized as we bopped along, doing suggestive hand gestures. A clock on the wall chimed loudly, stopping us all mid-bop.

"Is it 6 already!?" Yossy exclaimed, hurrying over to grab her purse. "I'm sorry, I've got to go. I have an Ongaku Gatas rehearsal in 30 minutes."

"But the Music Fair taping's next week!" Abe protested. Yossy groaned and paused in the open doorway.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, ok?" She made an apologetic face. "I'm really sorry, Abe. I didn't plan this very well."

"No, you didn't, Yocchan!" Abe mock-scolded with a smile. Yossy grinned and started out the door.

"Yossy!" I called. She turned and looked at me expectantly. I smiled and threw her cell phone at her. She caught it neatly and stowed it away in her pocket, winking at me in the process.

"Thanks, Aya!" she called as she left the room.

"100% kataomoi indeed," I mused to myself, staring after Yossy's retreating figure.

"What was that?" Abe asked slowly. I could feel her staring at me.

"Nothing."

------------------------------

And, yes, that IS where the title came from. For those who don't know, kataomoi basically means one-sided or unrequited love. Bwahahahahahaha!

If you've never seen the performance they're rehearsing for, you can find it uploaded by yours truly on YouTube.

part 21

part 19

"100% Kataomoi" Poll results

2007-11-01T16:27:00.000-06:00

So, I've decided to end the poll before posting the next chapter.
And by "posting" I mean finishing writing. XD

So, here are the results!

1st - Ishikawa Rika (40% / 10 votes)
2nd - Yoshizawa Hitomi (20% / 5 votes)
3rd - Matsuura Aya (16% / 4 votes)
4th - Ayaka (8% / 2 votes)
4th - Goto Maki (8% / 2 votes)
6th - Takahashi Ai (4% / 1 votes)
6th - Other (4% / 1 votes)
8th - Ogawa Makoto (0% / 0 votes)

Aaaaaand, I'm not really commenting other than the actual narrator DID get at least 1 vote and the poll results themselves amuse me.

addicted

2007-10-17T17:24:00.000-06:00

This is just a short, random one-shot I thought up at work today. The narrator is Yossy.

-----------------
I can't live like this anymore.

I can't be myself around you. I can barely think around you.

But, I can't breathe without you.

This is it. No more. It's over. I can't keep doing this to myself.

No more midnight invitations, no more casual touches and heated glances. No more jumping when you say my name, no more thinking about when you scream it.

But, God, those eyes, those lips, those legs, that smile, that touch... Even now, I don't know what I'm doing. My legs walk on their own. How did I even get here? My hand reaches out and knocks on your door.

"Hey," you greet me, looking straight into my eyes.

"I can't live like this anymore," I state flatly. Despite my words, I'm still unable to tear myself away from your level gaze. You smile in that knowing way you have.

"Then why are you here?" you reply simply. You grab my collar and I let myself be pulled back in.

----------------

I actually didn't have anyone specifically in mind as the other person. If you read this, please comment with who you were imagining the other person to be. <3

Insert long stream of cursing here.

2007-10-13T17:12:00.000-06:00

My computer just crashed. I had to restore it.
I lost EVERYTHING.
All my thousands of Yossi pics, all the in-progress fics, all the video I hadn't burned off yet - everything.
Insert incredibly long stream of cursing here.

"100% Kataomoi" part 19

2007-10-13T13:23:00.000-06:00

AYAKA - JUNE 28TH

"Ayaka! You made it!" Yossy exclaimed as she opened her front door. I stepped inside and stared incredulously at the chaos inside. What I could see was mostly empty except for a duffel bag near the door, but her bedroom door was open and random things kept being thrown out of the door and near a box living room. I could hear squealing and indistinct yelling. An item finally landed in the box and I heard triumphant shouting; I think I heard Mai yell 'In your face, Korenaga!'... I caught a glimpse of Miki searching meticulously through the kitchen, dancing a little and humming "Boogie Train '03" to herself.

"Yocchan," I started cautiously. Suddenly I heard a scream from the bedroom and Ishikawa came running into the living room holding a small gold statue in her hand.

"I KNEW IT!" Rika exclaimed, thrusting the item at Yossy accusingly. Yossy started laughing. Rika smacked my friend on the arm. "You said you lost it!"

"I did lose it! I lost it somewhere in that closet," Yossy replied defensively.

"What IS that?" I asked.

"Oh, it's from Hello! Morning. Rika and I co-won an award for funniest member," Yossy explained.

"See, it's not fair that you keep it," Rika replied. "It's half mine and - "

"Half yours? Please, it's like 10% yours. Without me, it was just you being painfully narcissistic."

"You're so mean to me!" Rika mock-whined.

"And that's why I keep the trophy," Yossy mock-whined back, snatching the statue from Rika and placing it casually on top of her head. Rika and I both stared, waiting for it to fall down. Yossy crossed her arms and grinned.

"Is your head flat or something?" Rika asked.

"No, I'm just that good," Yossy smirked.

"Hey, Yocchan," Miki called, walking towards us. "You still had some ice cream in the back of the freezer," she continued, smiling sweetly. She held up the found ice cream cone and slowly licked it, staring so blatantly at Yocchan that I almost started blushing for her.

The statue promptly fell off of Yossy's head. Miki turned to me and Rika and smirked.

"And I'm just THAT good," she said as Yossy silently leaned down and picked the figure up off of the floor.

Suddenly, chatter coming from the bedroom stopped, startling the four of us. Yossy's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the silence.

"Maaai?" she called.

"....yes?"

"What's going on in there?" This was followed by the muffled sounds of frantic whispering.

"Nothing!" Mai finally replied. Yossy raised an eyebrow and stalked over to her soon-to-be former bedroom.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" I could hear her yell as she walked inside. I turned to Rika and Miki.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"They're packing the last of her crap up. You know that second closet in Yocchan's bedroom?" Miki replied. I nodded. "Have you ever seen what's in there?"

"I just always assumed it was full of porn," I deadpanned. Rika laughed.

"No, that's in a box under her bed," Miki replied. "She keeps all the freebies she's gotten over the years in there. It's absolutely insane."

"Why are we here, though?"

"We're apparently helping Yossy move as part of Gatas training," Rika replied, rolling her eyes a little.

"But I'm not in Gatas," I protested.

"AND CLEAN IT UP!" Yossy bellowed, stalking back into the living room and slamming her bedroom door behind her. Miki glanced over at me and shrugged before continuing to eat her ice cream.

"Yocchan?" I ventured.

"Hmm?"

"Why am I here? I'm not part of Gatas and I don't remember offering to help you move."

"But you're my best friiiend!" Yossy whined. "Don't you want to help me move? You loooove me, remember?" I groaned at her puppy dog expression.

"Then where's Matsuura?" I asked, gesturing at Miki.

"She's still annoyed that I got mad at her for forgetting she remembered my birthday this year," Miki laughed. I blinked.

"Forgetting she remembered your birthday," I repeated slowly, hoping it would make sense the second time around. Yossy grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.

"Yeah, people think the three of us are strange? We've got NOTHING on those two. You have no idea," she muttered.

"What was that?" Miki called.

"Nothing!" Yossy replied with a charming grin. Miki raised an eyebrow and popped the last of the ice cream cone into her mouth. Suddenly, the bedroom door flew open.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?" Mai exclaimed, lugging behind her what appeared to be some sort of giant yellow flotation device. Konno followed her, laughing uncontrollably. Miki and I gaped at it in wonder, but Rika started cracking up.

"You KEPT that!?" she squealed between giggles.

"Of course!" Yossy said defensively, snatching the item from Mai and draping it around her like a beauty pageant sash.

"Why does have Kei's name on it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Miki grabbed my arm in a panic and pointed at the floor.

"Forget that! What the hell is that freaky looking brown thing!?" she exclaimed.

"It's my Yasuda Kei cell phone strap!" Yossy replied, as though it should be obvious.

"It's from Utaban," Konno offered.

"OH GEEZ!" We all turned to see a red-faced Korenaga rush out of the bedroom and wordlessly thrust a box at Yossy.

"See?" Miki said helpfully "She keeps that in a box under her bed."

part 18

part 20

"100% Kataomoi" part 17 Omake

2007-10-13T13:18:00.000-06:00

Whoops. I almost forgot to post this!

Inspired by JFC's comment on JPHiP, this is the full version of the Yossy-Miki phone conversation from Part 17.

Yossy: Hey.
Miki: Hey yourself, sexy. <3
Yossy: You at my place?
Miki: Of course. I've been patiently waiting for you.
Yossy: Ok, put clothes on.
Miki: I have no idea what you're -
Yossy: ha ha, no really. I ran into Aya and she's coming over for a bit.
Miki: So? She's seen me naked before.
Yossy: MIKI, NO.
Miki: *laughs* Ok, but I'm not putting underwear back on.
Yossy: ugh, fine.
Miki: Yep, the whoooole time she's here, just remember that I'm not wearing anything at all under my skirt. And I've been waiting for you to come home for a very. long. time.
Yossy: ...be there soon.
Miki: I'm sure you will. *laughs lecherously*
Yossy: yeah, yeah, I love you too. bye.
Miki: *cackles*

part 17

part 18

Almost!

2007-10-12T19:45:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I *think* part 19's done, but I'm not sure, so I'm gonna sleep on it. If it's a go, I'll be posting that in the morning when I wake up.

Oh, while I'm thinking about it! People seem to be going back and forth as to who it is that Aya has a thing for - is it Yossi or is it Miki? If you pay attention, I've actually been using the lyrics from a song when writing the Aya parts. If you figure out the song, the lyrics will blatantly tell you who it is. The reveal isn't too far away, though, so don't stress about figuring it out. XD

Almond's Ramblings

2007-10-09T05:01:00.000-06:00

"100% Kataomoi" is kicking my ass. XD

Seriously, it's driving me nuts. I have an actual timeline of events written out with things I want to put in, but I'm really eager to get to the angsty crap... I wrote two parts from August 21st a while ago and I wrote one part from August 23rd last night.

Should I post teasers? I think I'll post teasers. XD

All teasers subject to change. Price may vary. See store for details.

From August 21st.
"...I'm sorry," she sighed. I gave a short, humorless laugh.

"No, you're not," I replied, stalking out of the bathroom. I grabbed my futsal bag and threw it over my shoulder.

"[Name]!"

"Fuck off."

---------------

From August 23rd.
She reached out and grabbed my arm. I flinched at the familiar warmth on my skin. God, she sounded so tired, so drained, so desperate. I wanted to hold her, to tell her everything would be fine, to tell her I love her, to go home and lie in her arms forever. But I couldn't forget what had happened. I couldn't get past it. It hurt too much.

"Don't," I finally choked out. "It's still too raw." I wrenched myself away from her and fled the room.

--------------

God, I love mystery narrators.

I DID manage to write some of part 19 last night, so here's a few random words and phrases from that.

humming "Boogie Train '03"

painfully narcissistic

I'm just that good

ice cream

fell off of Yossi's head

smirked

Yeah, I'm strange.

If anyone's reading this, comment or something. Whoo.

"100% Kataomoi" part 18

2007-10-08T06:05:00.000-06:00

FUJIMOTO - JUNE 28TH

The taxi driver was staring at me.

Well, I can't really blame him. I mean, first of all, I AM Fujimoto Miki. And second of all, I was a bit... hyper.

I don't normally do hyper. It's not really my thing, but I had turned in my apartment keys and I was on my way to Yocchan's to help move her things over to our new place.

Our place.

I started giggling to myself again, making the driver glance at me once more in the rear-view mirror. But I didn't care. I was about to get 24/7 eyecandy.

The cab pulled up in front of her apartment complex. The driver smiled at me as I, still giddy, gave him a big tip.

"Thank you, miss," he said as I handed him the money. "You know, you look an awful lot like Fujimoto Miki. If you weren't so cheerful, I'd have thought you were her!" I laughed almost hysterically as he drove away. Ah, what a great day.

I whirled around and immediately slammed into a girl behind me.

"The hell!" I exclaimed, my glee rapidly turning to annoyance.

"Ah!" the girl exclaimed. She paused for a minute before continuing. "Fujimoto, good morning!"

"Konno, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"The special training," she replied. "Isn't that why you're here?"

"'Special training'?" I repeated.

"HEY!" I turned and saw Mai and Rika walking towards us. I scratched my head in confusion.

"What's going on?" I asked Konno.

"Yoshizawa called us," a voice came from beside me. I jumped and turned to face Korenaga. "Sorry," she apologized. "I thought you saw me."

"So, Miki, do you know what this special training is?" Mai asked.

"She doesn't seem to have a clue," Konno supplied helpfully.

"Really?" Korenaga said, tilting her head to one side. "That's weird. Aren't you the subcaptain?"

"Morning!" We all turned to look at the grinning tomboy coming out of the building. "Everyone ready for a workout?"

"Yossy... what have you plotted?" Rika asked with a suspicious I've-seen-this-before expression.

"Nothing!" Yossy replied, looking a bit too innocent. "Just a nice training session for the Gatas team! Teamwork, cardio, even a bit of strength training for good measure."

"You're making them help you move, aren't you?" I laughed. Yossy glared at me, which only made me laugh harder.

"WHAT?" Mai exclaimed. "You're moving?! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Uh... Hey, Mai? I'm moving," Yossy laughed sheepishly and led our grumbling teammates inside.

"This is worse than when I found out about her graduation from her concert MC," Mai muttered. "Were you just going to let me come over one day and you not be here?" she yelled.

"Pretty much," Yossy called back over her shoulder.

part 17 Omake

part 19

Perception

2007-10-06T09:41:00.000-06:00

Rika held up the hand mirror and gazed at into it critically. She held it above her and looked up into it. She held it to one side and glanced over. She held it below her and looked down. To her eyes, every angle made it worse.

She sighed and put the mirror down on the dressing room table. She poked the offensive chin and wondered to herself if she could afford surgery on her gigantic chin - and if so, would management let her.

Rika picked up the mirror again and stared at her enormous chin. Is it just me, Rika wondered, or did it get bigger in the last few minutes...

"Morning," a sleepy voice called from the doorway. Rika put the mirror back on the table and glanced over.

"Good morning!" she said cheerily. Yossy gave her a strange look and walked over to sit down next to Rika.

"What are you so perky about this morning?" the tall girl asked warily, reaching into her bag to pull out her script.

"I'm perky every morning," Rika laughed. Yossy raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Rika protested. "You're so strange, Yocchan!"

"Mmm..." Yossy put her headphones in, opened her script and started reading over it again.

Rika sighed and picked up the mirror again. Yeah, it was definitely getting bigger every minute. She groaned and leaned back in her chair. She stared up at the ceiling, wondering what to do. She closed her eyes. Would her massive chin eventually take over her entire face? Would she get kicked out of show business? Would she eventually be shunned and forced to move out of Japan and take refuge on Easter Island?

Rika was shocked out of her depressed musings by soft lips pressed to her offensive chin. She blinked and looked around the room. It was still empty except for Yossy next to her, reading her script and listening to music. Rika reached up and tentatively touched the spot where she had been kissed.

"It suits you. Don't worry about it," Yossy said quietly. She glanced over, caught Rika's eye, and smiled. Rika blushed and looked down.

When she looked up again, Yossy was back to her script as though nothing had happened. Rika picked up the hand mirror and gazed into it critically. She smiled at her perfect chin.

One-Shot Stories

2007-10-06T09:38:00.003-06:00

Noisy Beetles
The Lost World Pucchi Games
2:44 pm
Perception
addicted
Trapped!*
IRC Chat Fic I
IRC Chat Fic II

- - - - - - - - - - -
* - These stories are technically omake parts from the memoir trilogy, but they work as one-shots as well.

2:44 pm

2007-10-06T09:35:00.002-06:00

I smiled to myself and surveyed my apartment. The massive cleaning I'd undertaken this morning was almost done. The only thing left was...

"That stupid bookcase," I muttered. When I'd moved in, there was a perfect little nook near the door just right for a bookcase. Unfortunately, that also meant it was just right for everything else to eventually end up on it. It was now to the point where "bookcase" was a loose term that apparently meant "giant bookcase-shaped pile of miscellany." I sighed and started taking everything down and sorting it into piles.

I was trying not to get sucked into anything - which was especially hard with the books and mementos scattered throughout - but I managed to... until I found the photo album. I smiled to myself, sat down cross-legged on the floor, and began flipping through the pages.

"I can't believe it's already been two years," I murmured, running my fingers gently over a photograph of my final "The Peace!" performance on Hello! Morning. I laughed a little at Yocchan's hair before turning the page. An envelope fell out from between the pages and into my lap. I picked it up and stared at it in confusion for a moment.

"Rika-chan!" Yossy called out. I turned around, wiping the sweat off of my face with a towel. She handed me a black envelope.

"What's this?" I asked, flipping the envelope over and starting to slide my finger underneath the flap.

"Don't open that here!" Yossy exclaimed. I drew my hand back swiftly and glanced up at her in confusion. "Um, I mean, it's the photos... for that album we gave you, remember?"

"Oh! Right... for the graduation" I trailed off with a sad smile. "I'd forgotten for a second there." I bit my lower lip.

Yossy pulled me into a tight hug. I closed my eyes and tried to fight back the tears. Abruptly, she exhaled sharply and pulled away from me. She smiled, laughing a bit, and fixed her gaze on the wall behind me.

"Are you ok?" I asked, feeling a bit concerned. Yossy shook her head.

"No, yeah, I'm fine," she said, sounding unconvinced herself. "I, well... just be sure to put those photos in when you get home, ok?" I nodded. "Seriously."

"I will!" I protested, laughing a little. She looked at me suspiciously.

"You're going to forget, aren't you?"

"No!" I laughed, swatting her with my sweaty towel.

"EEWWW!" she mock-squealed. "Ishikawa sweat!" She ran off down the hallway. I shook my head and went to get changed, clutching the envelope in my hand.

"...whoops," I laughed. She was right. When I'd gotten home, I was so exhausted from the concerts and press conferences and so emotionally drained that I just shoved the envelope in the back of the book and completely forgot about it until now.

I slid my finger under the flap and opened the envelope. Smiling, I pulled out the polaroids that had been placed there so long ago. I gazed nostalgically at the smiling faces, the camera-ready poses, the skimpy over-the-top costumes. I started to get up and find some glue to paste the photos in when the stark contrast of the white paper still in the black envelope caught my eye.

I pulled the paper out and stared at my name in familiar handwriting for a moment before unfolding the note to read.

Rika-chan -

When we were on that music program and they asked if I had anything to apologize to you for, I realized that I have everything to apologize to you for.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for how I treated you. For how I suddenly pushed you aside, putting you down at every chance. For turning away from your confused face. For making it difficult for you to put on your everyday happy expression. For avoiding your questions. For being relieved when you finally accepted the change in my actions and persisted on being my friend anyway.

I'm sorry I was such a coward. "Was"... still am, I guess. Why else would I be writing this instead of saying it to your face?

But, I don't think you'd let me say it. You'd just smile and say "It's ok!" and I wouldn't be able to continue. I need to explain it to you. I've wanted to for a while now, but I couldn't - not with you still in the group with me. I've already made your time in Morning awkward enough.

I guess... I'm not sure when it started. It's pretty common knowledge that I'm not exactly the straightest Hello Pro member, but figuring that out yourself, while cameras are on you, while the entire country's watching you... it's difficult to say the least.

It's jarring when you realize that you're thinking differently than everyone around you. I really had no idea for a very long time. Kaorin finally pulled me aside one day and kindly told me to watch what I was saying in public a bit more carefully. I was floored. I didn't know what to think anymore. ...but, you know all this and I'm just rambling now. I guess I should just come out with it already.

I quickly found myself having feelings for you. Even writing those words down seems so strange, but... I wanted to be near you constantly. I wanted to laugh with you, talk to you, hold you... kiss you.

It scared me. I couldn't look at you without thinking about it. So, I shut you away from me as best I could. Like a coward, I hid from it.

I'm sorry. I never told you why I couldn't be around you anymore. I know I hurt you, and I never wanted to. I just didn't know what else to do.

I'm so sorry.

There were times that I almost thought you felt the same way. And if that's true, I'm more sorry than you could ever know. ...if that's true, please tell me.

I hope this doesn't ruin the tentative friendship we've managed to rebuild. I hope everything can stay the same. I think I've more than shown I can control myself around you - ha ha.

If it can't, though, I understand. And that's why I waited to tell you. Because I've hurt you enough as it is.

Congratulations again on your graduation.

-Yossy-

I stared at the paper in disbelief. Abruptly, I got to my feet, spilling the pictures onto the floor. I stuffed her confession back into the envelope, grabbed my keys, and headed out into the bright sunlight.

Clenching the envelope in my hand, I stood nervously on her doorstep and waited for her to answer my knock. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I didn't know what to say anymore. 'Hi, can we talk? I just read your heart-bearing letter from two years ago.'

Right.

I glanced up when I heard the door unlock. She opened the door and smiled down at me, brushing a stray lock of blonde hair out of her face.

"Hey!" Yossy grinned, leaning against the doorway. "This is a surprise!"

"I got your letter," I blurted out. She tilted her head to one side in confusion.

"What letter? I didn't write you a letter," she replied.

"I... can I come in?"

"Oh! Yeah, sure," she moved aside to let me pass. I walked into her apartment.

"I was cleaning and I..." I trailed off as Miki, sitting comfortably on the couch, glanced up at me from her magazine.

"Hey," she said casually, giving me a once-over. Her gaze fell on the envelope clutched in my hand and she raised an eyebrow, glancing back up at my face.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I didn't realize you had company." Yossy laughed.

"It's just Mikitty. She's always here when - "

"Yeah, but I'm leaving," Miki interrupted, standing up.

"What? I thought we were going to that movie," Yossy said, confused.

"Changed my mind," Fujimoto shrugged, walking over to Yossy's side.

"You mean I got dressed for nothing?" the blonde complained, gesturing at her fitted collared shirt and surprisingly stylish jeans. Miki grinned and smoothed down Yossy's collar.

"Tell you what. Next time I come over, you can stay naked," the tiny brunette grinned. I watched in shock as she grabbed the shirt collar and pulled Yossy's lips down to meet her own. Miki started to tip backwards and I thought for a moment they would fall over, but Yossy put her arm around Miki's waist and pulled her upright. She pulled away from Miki with an unreadable expression on her face.

How stupid of me, I thought. Did I really think she was just waiting at home for me? Now that I thought about it, her letter never said anything about waiting for me at all. What was I doing here...

Miki rubbed her index finger along her lips thoughtfully and grinned at Yossy.

"You're so strange," Yossy sighed, shaking her head. Miki sauntered over to me and suddenly pressed her finger to my lips.

"Indirect kiss," she laughed. I turned my head and stared at her. She winked at me and walked out the front door. "Have fuuuun!" she sang out with a wave before shutting the door behind her. I turned back to Yossy.

"What was that?" I blurted out. Yossy sighed.

"That was Fujimoto Miki. You either go along for the ride or get run over by it." She stared at the door thoughtfully for a moment before shaking her head and turning her gaze back to me. "So, what's up?"

"I, um... you know, never mind. I just - it's stupid." I laughed and started to leave. Her hand on my arm stopped me and I turned to face her. I suddenly found myself aware of how close she was to me. How easily and swiftly the distance could be closed between us.

"You wouldn't have come all the way over here if it wasn't important," she smiled softly at me. I let her lead me over to the couch and sat down on it. Yossy sat crosslegged on the couch and turned so she was facing me. She rested her elbow on her knee and leaned her chin on her hand, looking up at me expectantly.

"I can't believe you're wearing actual clothes outside of work," I teased, pulling on the hem of her shirt.

"Ishikawa!" she scolded.

I looked down at my lap and wordlessly handed the envelope over. She looked at it curiously and opened the flap, pulling out the note. She skimmed the note quickly and handed it back to me.

"What about it?" she asked, looking confused.

"I... I only just read it today. I'm sorry," I apologized. Her eyes widened and she placed a hand over her gaping mouth.

"You only read it today?!" she exclaimed. I nodded silently. "That explains why you never mentioned it," she laughed a little and stood up. She restlessly swung her arms around a little. "Well, this visit suddenly became awkward, huh?"

"I'm sor-"

"Why are you apologizing?" Yossy cut me off. "You haven't done anything."

"I did!" I looked up at her. "I didn't read it! You asked me to and I didn't. "

"It doesn't matter," she shrugged. "I just worried that things would change if you knew. As long as - "

"No! I wouldn't - I mean, I'm not going to..." I trailed off helplessly. "I'm sorry I ruined your date."

"Huh?"

"Your movie plans," I replied.

"...you mean Mikitty!?" Yossy leaned her head back and started laughing. "We're not together! She just gets bored and harasses me when Ayaya's not around."

"B-but she kissed you!"

"Yeah, it's Fujimoto Miki. She gets bored and harasses me when Ayaya's not around," she repeated matter-of-factly.

"So... you're not dating her," I said quietly to myself.

"Nope. What, are you jealous or something?" she laughed. I felt my face color a little and I avoided her eyes. Yossy abruptly stopped laughing and sat back down next to me. "...are you?"

I could feel her eyes on me, studying me. I wanted to reply, to say something, to do something... but I was suddenly unable to move or speak under her penetrating gaze. She gently touched my chin with her index finger and turned my face towards her. Her questioning eyes searched mine for answers.

I suddenly became aware of her slowly moving her face towards mine, closing the distance between us. Stopping just short of touching them, she looked down at my lips and then back up into my eyes. Without thinking, I licked my dry lips. She smiled and softly pressed her lips to mine.

As the kiss deepened and she pulled my body closer, I found myself wishing that time would stop right then and there. That we could stay in that moment, on that day, in that minute. 2:44 pm.

----------------

For those who don't understand the title, one of the nicknames for the Rika-Yossy pairing is 1444 (14 = Ishi, 44 = Yoshi). 2:44 pm would be 14:44 on a 24-hour clock.

The Lost World Pucchi Games

2007-10-06T09:35:00.001-06:00

"Good morning, class!" Ishikawa Rika exclaimed as she entered the 'classroom'. There was silence. "Eh? What's that?" she said perkily. "I said GOOD MORNING, CLASS!"

"Good morning, Ishikawa-sensei," the girls droned. Fujimoto Miki skillfully threw a wadded up piece of paper on top of Rika's head. Yoshizawa Hitomi leaned over all of sixth gen to high-five Miki. Rika sighed.

"If you don't learn to greet properly, you'll never get to play our fun childrens games from around the world!" Rika exclaimed exuberantly.

"Let me guess, we're playing the damn flying donkey game again," Miki muttered. Rika shot her a death glare to rival the fair Fujimoto herself.

"Today!" Rika said with a big smile, looking down at her notes. "We will be playing a new game from America!"

"Ehhh?" the girls said in a unison impression of the Asayan studio audience.

"Does this mean Ayaka will be showing up?" Takahashi Ai asked.

"Nah, she's not allowed on the Hello! Morning set ever since she and Mai got drunk and tried to pants me during the skit," Yossy replied nonchalantly.

"What the hell!? I missed that?" Miki groaned. Rika caught the directors eye as he signaled for her to just ignore them.

"That's right! The game today is the traditional American childrens game Duck Duck Goose! In Japanese, that would be Ahiru Ahiru Gachou!" Morning Musume. stared at her blankly. Takahashi looked thoughtful.

"We all will sit in our chairs in a circle!" Rika explained, reading verbatim from her notes. "Then whoever is 'it' walks around tapping or pointing to each member in turn, calling each a 'duck' until finally picking one child to be a 'goose'. The 'goose' then rises and chases and tries to tag 'it', while 'it' tries to return to and sit where the 'goose' had been sitting. If whoever is 'it' succeeds, the 'goose' is now 'it' and the process begins again. If the 'goose' succeeds in tagging whoever is 'it', the goose returns to sit in the previous spot and the girl who's 'it' resumes the process."

"yay," Miki said drily, waving a finger in the air.

"Now, who would like to be 'it' first?" The others looked at one another.

"I remember now! Takahashi suddenly exclaimed. "'Goose' is in my slang books! It means to grab someone's butt!"

"I'M IT!" Miki yelled, jumping up from her chair. Yossy looked amused. Takahashi, Niigaki Risa, and Tanaka Reina looked horrified. Kamei Eri looked up towards the ceiling, attempting to communicate with her people again. Michishige Sayumi looked at herself in the mirror she pulled out from God-knows-where. Kusumi Koharu grinned vacantly at the camera. Poor Okada Yui and Miyoshi Erika had no idea what they were in store for.

A few minutes later, the studio was in utter chaos. Miki had somehow managed to stay "it" the entire time. She had goose'd Risa, Reina, Sayumi, Koharu, and Erika once each, Takahashi three times, Eri twice, and poor Yui five times. And somehow she'd gotten Rika once, but no one was really sure how that had happened.

Each time, Miki would attack her target with her wandering hands and then proceed to walk slow-motion - or sometimes even backwards - until the poor "goose" had no choice but to tag the groping demon. Rika looked to the director for guidance, but the poor man broke out a flask after Yui was groped the second time and was in no position to be offering anyone advice on anything. Rika smiled slowly as she came to a realization.

"OK!" she announced cheerily. "The next round is the final one! And whatever girl is 'it' at the end of the round will have the penalty!" The athletic groper grinned lazily. "And, you can't pick someone you've already gotten." Miki's grin faded very quickly as she realized who she had yet to violate for fear of retaliation. Yossy cracked her knuckles and made a big show of standing up to stretch her legs.

Yossy sat back down in her chair, her every muscle tensed and at the ready. Miki met her eye and their eyes narrowed. Rika was just glad this was getting on tape.

"Aaand Start!" the perky Viyuden leader exclaimed. Miki lazily walked around the circle, smirking as the others tried to wriggle away from her.

"Duck, Duck, Duck, Turtle, Duck, Duck..." She had already passed Yossy once, but this time she was going in for the kill. She eyed the tall girl carefully, trying to determine what would give her the most grope while still giving her a decent start time. "Duck, Duck, Duck." Miki reached her arm over Yossy shoulder and grabbed the leader's boob. "GOOSE!"

Although she was surprised by Miki's brazen violation, Yossy wasn't the Gatas captain for nothing. She hurdled over her chair, almost kicking Erika in the face in the process, and hit the ground running. Miki had a slight head start and usually was faster than Yossy to tell the truth, but her gleeful laughter was slowing her down. That and Reina and Risa's attempts to trip her. As Miki neared Yossy's empty chair, Erika shocked everyone by successfully tripping the groper. As Fujimoto stumbled, Yossy caught up to the former soloist and promptly tackled her to the ground. Yossy then proceeded to smack Miki's butt before using it as a chair and flashing the camera the V-sign. Miki was laughing so hard at the incident that Yossy almost lost her balance twice.

Rika snuck a glance at the director who was now passed out drunk on the floor. The assistant had finally come over and was gesturing for her to wrap it up as he attempted to awaken his boss.

"OK! So that means Miki has the penalty!" the persistently perky hostess said. "She has to drink Aojiru!" A ninja-like production assistant ran over with a tray full of Aojiru. Rika looked down at the glasses. "Apparently a LOT of Aojiru!" Rika exclaimed. Miki groaned.

"What are you moaning for? I haven't even done anything," Yossy smirked, smacking Miki's butt again as she got up and returned to her seat. Miki glared at the retreating leader and stood up to accept her punishment. Then, to the members' chants of "CHUG CHUG CHUG!", Miki downed all of the nasty liquid in one shot.

"It was so worth it," Miki grinned through her disgust.

Noisy Beetles

2007-10-06T09:33:00.000-06:00

Takahashi Ai started down the hall, stretching her sore arm. Rika had been a little aggressive during the sword fight practice today and had accidentally speared Ai in the shoulder.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Ai turned curiously and found Risa leaning against a wall, shaking her head.

"I was just going to the dressing room," Ai explained. The eyebrow beam girl shook her head again.

"They're in there again." Ai's eyes widened.

"AGAIN? That's the third time today!"

"I know! And they are REALLY loud this time." And this coming from Niigaki "USO!" Risa.

"All my stuff's in there," Ai groaned. "What am I supposed to do, hang around in my Prince Sapphire costume waiting for them to finish? That could be hours."

"You could go in there and break it up," Risa suggested. Ai burst out laughing.

"Are you insane?! Miki would either kill me or make me join in!"

"Well, someone's gotta do something. We're all prisoners in the hallway."

"YES! YES! YES!" a voice echoed down the hallway. Ai and Risa shuddered in unison.

"Why don't we make Makoto do it?" Ai suggested. Risa nodded sagely.

"Do what?" The girls jumped apart as Koharu stared at them inquisitively.

"Uh... Makoto needs to tell our fearless leaders to keep it down," Risa replied.

"Oh! I can do that!" Koharu smiled vacantly and skipped off down the hall. Risa and Ai shook their heads sadly.

"She was so young," Ai murmured as Miki's scream filled the air.

"So very young," Risa agreed as Koharu knocked on the dressing room door.

Risa and Ai waited... and waited... and waited some more.

"Sh-should we go in after her?" Ai ventured, staring at the closed door at the end of the hallway.

"Do YOU want to?" Risa asked. Ai shook her head violently. Suddenly, a new scream came from The Room.

"That was Koharu..." Risa said nervously.

"Yoshizawa wouldn't let Miki..." Ai trailed off. The two exchanged panicked looks and took off down the hallway.

"YES!" Yossy's voice bounced off the walls as the pair skidded to a halt outside the dressing room door. They nodded at each other and burst into the room.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO.... Koharu?" Risa felt absolutely ridiculous. Fujimoto was in a bathrobe, Yoshizawa was fully clothed, and no one was even sitting next to each other.

"Aw, dammit, Gaki! You made me lose!" Yossy groaned, snapping shut her Nintendo DS.

"HA!" Miki laughed triumphantly, twirling the tie of her bathrobe in triumph. "I am SO the Queen of Mario Kart!"

"I came in last again..." Koharu said sadly. Yossy reached over and patted Koharu on the head.

"Maybe next time," she said kindly.

"Only if she gives up idol work and practices day and night," Miki scoffed. Yossy glared at her sub-leader.

"What were you two up to bursting in like that?" Yossy asked the detective duo.

"Uh... we, uh... you were loud, so we, uh, thought someone was hurt?" Ai ventured.

"Apparently Miki and Koharu get very excitable playing wireless games," Yossy laughed.

"I wasn't the one yelling 'YES!' every time I cut people off!" Miki protested.

"I wasn't the one screaming like a banshee when I got cut off!" Yossy retorted. The pair glared at each other.

"OK THEN!" Risa said loudly. "We'll just be going, then. Um, don't forget your things, Ai..."

"Sorry about the noise," Yossy replied. "Just with the stress of the play, we needed some way to, uh, let off some steam." Miki coughed.

"Oh, it's fine, it's fine! Sorry to bother you like that," Takahashi replied, still red from embarrassment. She ushered the other two out of the room and shut the door. Miki walked over to the door.

"Well, then," she sighed. "Where were we?" Yossy grinned and pulled on the tie of Miki's robe, letting it slip to the floor, exposing Miki's fully nude body.

"Oh, right about here," Yoshizawa replied with a grin, her hands lazily tracing the curves of Miki's body. "Did you actually LOCK the door this time?"

"Hey, I had the mind to grab a robe and throw you that video game, didn't it?" Miki protested. "At least give me credit for that."

"Oh, I'll give you more than credit..." Yossy grinned lecherously before resuming what Koharu had unknowingly interrupted.

"100% Kataomoi" Poll!

2007-10-04T21:06:00.000-06:00

This is for all "100% Kataomoi" readers who have read up through part 17.

"100% Kataomoi" part 17

2007-10-04T21:05:00.000-06:00

MATSUURA - JUNE 21ST - 30 MINUTES LATER

I leaned against the brick wall and sighed. Ok, Aya, focus. You've got Mikitan's present. You've just got to wait for Yoshizawa to get out of the bathroom and then you're home free.

But once again, my mind ignored me and started to wander to illicit places.

I shook my head. FOCUS, MATSUURA!

"Excuse me..." I glanced up at the strange man in front of me. "Ah! You are! You're Ayaya, aren't you!?" I laughed sheepishly and bowed my head a little.

"I'm sorry, but we're not allowed to do autographs or photos outside of work," I apologized before he could say anything more. He was standing a bit too close for my comfort.

"Oh, I understand! I'd love it if I could just shake your hand!" I glanced around uncomfortably.

"No, that's really - "

"Come on!" he persisted, moving even closer until I could smell his breath. "It's just a - "

"Any part of you that touches her will be personally removed by me," a calm voice interjected. The man's grin vanished and he whirled around to face the speaker. Yossy stood there with a charming grin on her face.

"I was just trying to get a handshake from my favorite idol!" he protested weakly. I stifled back a laugh as I noticed he was a few centimeters shorter than her.

"That's nice. You can go now," she replied sweetly.

"I'm not going anywhere until I - " Yossy whipped her sunglasses off and narrowed her eyes.

"Listen, buddy. I'm Yoshizawa freaking Hitomi. I can and have bench pressed every single girl on the Gatas team. You don't want to mess with me. Leave. Now." I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing as the poor fanboy scampered off. She caught my eye and grinned.

"'I'm Yoshizawa freaking Hitomi'?" I repeated, linking my arm with hers as we made our way down the street. "Tan's rubbing off on you."

"I'm out of practice," she laughed. "I used to have to do that all the time for Tsuji and Kago. Miki's fans are mostly too scared of her to accost her."

"Yell at them like that and they'll probably become your fans," I replied with a giggle.

"Yeah, no, I'm good," she said with a mock-grimace. "So when are you giving Miki her present?"

"I was going to come over now if that's ok," I replied. She dug her cell phone out of her pocket and hit her speed-dial.

"Hey... you at my place?" she asked into the phone. "...ok, put clothes on... ha ha, no, really. I ran into Aya and she's coming over for a bit... MIKI, NO.... ugh, fine... be there soon... yeah, yeah, love you too, bye." She snapped the phone shut and shook her head. We headed into the train station and sat down on the bench to wait.

"Everything ok?" I asked in amusement.

"Let's just say it's a good thing I called first," she smiled sheepishly at me. "Oh, that reminds me... isn't it almost your birthday?"

"Yeah!" I said, surprised. "The 25th." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag.

"Happy birthday!" I blinked and opened the bag. Inside was the small gold necklace I'd been admiring in the shop.

"When did you...?"

"I went back to buy that, not to use their restroom," Yossy shrugged nonchalantly. "It's no big deal."

"You're spoiling me," I accused teasingly. I fastened the necklace around my neck and smiled. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," she replied as the train pulled up. We stood up and headed over. "It'll be nice for the three of us to hang out, huh?"

"You mean, you, me, and Tan?" I asked as we walked towards the opened doors.

"Yeah. We haven't really spent any time together... well unless you count the time Miki was naked and yelling..." Yossy stopped in her tracks and turned to me. "That came out wrong."

"Yeah, it did," I agreed, stepping onto the train.

part 16

part 17 Omake

"100% Kataomoi"

2007-10-04T20:57:00.002-06:00

"100% Kataomoi"table of contents

"100% Kataomoi" is a direct sequel to "memoir", so I would suggest reading "memoir" first.

Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Omake

Part 6
Miki-sama's Omake Corner
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14

Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 17 Omake
Part 18
Part 19
part 20
part 21
part 22
part 23
part 24
part 25
part 26
part 27
part 28
part 29 (End)

memoir | 100% Kataomoi | memory

"100% Kataomoi" part 16

2007-10-04T20:57:00.001-06:00

YOSHIZAWA - JUNE 21ST

I pulled my hat down low over my face and looked around the noisy street carefully through my sunglasses before darting into the coffee shop. I quickly spotted her alone at the corner booth and slid in across from her.

"Uh, can I help you?" I lowered my sunglasses and stared at her incredulously over them.

"You have a real problem recognizing me out of context, don't you?" I said flatly, pushing the sunglasses back up the bridge of my nose. Aya started laughing.

"I don't think that's fair," Aya protested. "You're incognito." She paused to sip her coffee. "I mean, really. Since when do you wear actual clothes outside of work?"

"Ah, it's all a plot," I replied, leaning forward conspiratorially. "First, everyone expected to see me in cute clothes, so I started wearing tracksuits all the time. Now that everyone expects me to be in tracksuits, I have to go back to fashionable clothes." I looked at her over my sunglasses. "It's all part of my evil plot."

"You haven't done laundry, have you?"

"Not since before I left for Spain," I admitted cheerfully. "These are Miki's clothes." She reached next to her and grabbed her purse off of the seat.

"I just send my laundry out," she replied, taking her wallet out and laying the money down for her bill. She grabbed a face mask out of her bag and stood to leave.

"Yeah, Maki does the same. It seems like such a waste of money to me, though," I explained, getting up to follow the tiny brunette. Aya paused by the door to secure the face mask concealing her identity before heading out into the bright sun.

"So where does Tan think you are today?" Aya asked, casually linking arms with me as we strolled through Shibuya.

"Apartment shopping," I replied, warily eyeing the crowd we passed through. Miki would absolutely kill me if anything happened to her best friend and Aya's apparently oblivious to the fact that her disguise is horrid. She just looks like, well, Matsuura Aya with a face mask.

"Oh... right, you two are moving in together, huh?" she replied. Her strange tone turned my attention away from that suspicious group of boys pointing at us.

"Yeah, we are.... is that okay?" I asked, studying her face carefully.

"Why are you asking me?" she laughed brightly, staring straight ahead. A fleeting suspicion from months ago suddenly resurfaced into my thoughts. Aya didn't...

"Ayaya, you're not... I mean, you don't - "

"Ah! Here it is!" she cut me off, abruptly dropping my arm and stepping into the nearest store. I shook my head and followed her inside.

part 15

part 17

"100% Kataomoi" part 15

2007-10-04T20:56:00.002-06:00

ISHIKAWA - JUNE 19TH

"Ishikawa!" Miki exclaimed angrily, bursting through the door and slamming it shut behind her. I blinked in surprise as she stalked over to me. I stood up and faced her.

"Miki? What in the world are you - "

"Don't play dumb with me!" Miki snapped, grabbing me by the shoulders and pushing me back against the wall. I stared straight into her narrowed eyes; my heart pounded in my ears.

"About what?" I protested. Miki glared and leaned in towards me.

"You know what I'm talking about," Miki hissed. She was so close our noses were almost touching. I could feel her breath on my lips.

"Honestly, I'm sorry, but I don't know!" I replied, unable to tear my eyes away from her mouth. I unconsciously licked my lips. She smirked.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," she replied, letting her hand drop from my shoulder. She let it slowly travel up my leg and then back down, her face unchanging as she stared at me.

"M-miki!" I stammered as her wandering hand began its second trip - this time making its way under my skirt before slowly returning back to my knee. "What - "

"You think I haven't noticed?" Miki asked calmly as her hand moved to my inner thigh and continued its upward path. "Everyone's noticed how you keep staring at me in the locker room after practice." I bit my lip as her hand paused just shy of where it was sorely wanted. I looked into her eyes as her hand traveled back down my leg.

"And?" I challenged. She laughed at my brazen tone.

"If you wanted something, you just had to ask."

"What about Yocchan?" I blurted out. She didn't even blink.

"Who?" she asked before passionately claiming my lips.

"ISHIKAWA RIKA!"

I jumped awake and glanced around nervously. Yossy glared at me and shook her head in disapproval.

"Honestly, Rika, we're having a meeting here. Can you at least try and get ready to set a good example for the new players?" Yossy scolded me. I flushed.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized, bowing a little to my fellow seasoned Gatas members. "I didn't get much sleep last night and - "

"Neither did Yocchan, but she's doing fine," Miki interjected. Yossy turned her annoyance on her girlfriend.

"Miki, what did I JUST say?" she snapped.

"Don't freak out the noobs," Miki replied calmly. Yossy glared at her. "No mixing indoor sports and outdoor sports?" Someone started snickering behind me.

"Just try and keep it in your pants when we're on the field, ok?" Yossy sighed.

"I'd think you'd know by now that it's your pants to be concerned about around me," Miki said flatly. She grinned brightly and saluted Yossy. "Captain."

That did it. Mai, Korenaga, and Shiba all burst into laughter. I think Kore was even crying from laughing so hard. Yossy sat down, put her head in her hands, and sighed.

Miki glanced over and caught my eye. She wiggled her eyebrows and grinned lecherously at me. I flushed and turned my head, staring straight forward. Miki leaned over and poked the side of my leg.

"Have any good dreams?"

part 14

part 16

"100% Kataomoi" part 14

2007-10-04T20:56:00.001-06:00

FUJIMOTO - JUNE 18TH

"HE THOUGHT YOU WERE MY BROTHER?!" I roared with laughter. Yossy glared at me. We were standing in her kitchen cleaning up the dishes from dinner.

"So much for the dark hair making me girly, huh?" she muttered.

"Nah, he was just too stunned at the wonder that is Fujimoto Miki," I replied with a straight face. She swatted my butt with the dishtowel, but said nothing. "Is it bugging you?" I asked, turning away from the sink to look at her.

"A little bit, yeah," she admitted. "I mean, I know I can act like an old man, but..."

"It's your boobs."

"Excuse me?" she blinked. I poked her right breast with my soapy finger.

"Your boobs, darling. Your sports bra makes them nonexistent, especially in those tracksuits you're so fond of. Wear a normal bra for once and voila, insta-girl." Yossy looked down at her chest thoughtfully.

"You know, you're right..."

"Of course I'm right!" I declared. "I am the wonder that is Fujimoto Miki!"

"You know, for as much as you rag on Sayu, you really do act an awful lot like her sometimes," she mused. I turned and glared fiercely at her.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that," I said very slowly.

"Uh, yeah, let's go with that," she laughed nervously. Suddenly, the sound of "Aisu Cream to My Purin" filled the air. We both stared at each other in confusion. Yossy's eyes narrowed and she walked over to her cell phone lying on the table.

"Freaking Rika," she muttered as she picked it up. "Hello?.... Ok.... Yeah, I'll tell her... Ok, thanks."

"Who was that?"

"Security guy. He's stationed outside just in case. Since it's already dark, they want you to stay here all night in case someone tries to follow you home. Didn't think you'd mind." I grinned at her. "I think I'm gonna have to move, though," she sighed.

"Can't they just kick him out?" I asked, putting the last dish up to dry and turning off the water.

"Yeah, but the problem is he knows where I live now, so he could tell other people, and then one morning I leave the apartment to find a surge of fanboys demanding to know where 'Miki-sama' is," Yossy replied. I started laughing.

"You have fans, silly."

"True, but mine don't dance around demanding that I punish them," she pointed out. I looked around her neat, stylish apartment.

"This sucks. I like your apartment!" I sighed.

"No, you just dislike yours," she countered.

"That too."

"Why don't you move too, then?" she asked.

"I'm too lazy to find a new place," I replied, plopping down on the couch. She sat down next to me.

"Well, what if I'm finding one?" A slow smile spread across her face and she looked at me expectantly.

"No, it's ok. I mean, you have to find a new place for yourself anyway, so..."

"Miki, I'm asking if you want to move into an apartment together."

"Oh..." I trailed off. "OH!" She started laughing. "Wait, seriously?"

"Seriously. You practically live here anyway."

"You really think that's a good idea?" I asked slowly.

"You don't?" She said, sounding surprised. "I thought you'd be all for it. We don't have to, I mean, it was just an idea."

"No, no, no, no... don't misunderstand me. I think it's the best idea you've had in a long time - "

"Really? What was the last one?" Yossy interrupted.

"Whipped cream."

"Ah, yes," she nodded, a faraway look in her eyes.

"But! I've been told my hands have a tendency to wander a bit - "

"A bit?"

"And!" I continued, ignoring her. "I'm not sure if you'd ever be able to leave the apartment."

"Miki," she groaned, giving me a warning look. I laughed and grabbed her hand. I kissed the palm and held it against my cheek.

"I'd love to," I said softly. She moved her hand to the back of my neck and brought my lips to hers.

About fifteen minutes later, I stuck my head out of the front door and gestured the security guy over.

"Yes ma'am?" he said quietly.

"Earlier, when I thought I would be leaving, I played a bit of a practical joke on Yoshizawa," I replied.

"Ok."

"I kind of hid a bunch of fake snakes all over her apartment."

"Oh my. Does she not like snakes?"

"Hates them with an undying passion. Anyway, so, um, if you hear screaming or anything like that coming from the apartment... don't worry about it. It's probably just the snakes."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied, returning back to his post. I shut the front door and cackled silently to myself before shedding my bathrobe and returning back to the bedroom.

part 13

part 15

"100% Kataomoi" part 13

2007-10-04T20:55:00.004-06:00

YOSHIZAWA - JUNE 18TH

I paused outside my front door and smiled in anticipation. There's nothing quite like coming home after a long, tiring day to your gorgeous girlfriend, I thought to myself as I turned the key and pushed the door open.

"Mi..." The word died on my lips as I stepped inside, letting the door slam itself shut behind me.

"You're home early!" Miki exclaimed, coming out of the kitchen. She brushed her hands off on her denim shorts and walked over to me. "How was dance practice? Are the new girls any good?"

"Fujimoto, what did you do to my kitchen?" I said slowly, putting my bag down and removing my shoes.

"I made dinner," she replied, giving me a welcome-home kiss. She gave my tracksuit and disheveled hair the once-over. "What, no jinbei today?" she asked sarcastically.

"Yeah..." I said, still a bit shell-shocked at the state of chaos I saw before me.

"You got home before I could clean, that's all," she laughed. "I know what a neat freak you are."

"Yeah, blame Tsuji for the development of that little trait," I muttered as Miki guided me to the couch.

"Sit, relax, unwind," she said sweetly as I sat down and began to untense a little. "Plot things to do to me in bed later, you know, the usual." I laughed and leaned back, closing my eyes.

"What, no serenade?" I mock-complained.

"...well, I AM cleaning," she mused. I opened one eye warily.

"I wasn't serio-"

"DENWA WA MADA KONAI!" she sang loudly. She tossed the sponge in the air, did a single Natsu-sensei approved spin, and caught it without blinking. "MEERU WA MADA KONA~-I!"

"Miki, I wasn't serious," I muttered, but she was in her own little world of Boogie Train 07. I shook my head as she began incorporating the choreography into her actions. "YOU'RE WEIRD!" I yelled over her singing. Miki just flashed me a brilliant grin and continued on her merry way.

Suddenly, there was a loud pounding at the door. Miki paid it no mind, since she was midway through the second verse. I sighed and walked over to answer the door. Some man I had never seen before was on my doorstep.

"Um, can I help you?" I asked, cautiously standing half-behind the door in case he was some crazy fan.

"Yeah, listen, buddy," he snapped. I blinked. "I just moved downstairs and, you know, I like the Hello! Project girls as much as the next guy, but seriously, turn the damn music down."

I blinked. Did... was this seriously happening? I tilted my head to one side.

"Well," I began.

"I mean it sounds like you have Fujimoto Miki in your damn apartment! What, did you cut the background music out to hear her better?" he cut me off, rolling his eyes a little. I coughed to cover my laughter.

"Terribly sorry," I said, trying not to burst into hysterical laughter. "I'll try to keep - " The singing suddenly stopped mid-word.

"HEY! Where's the bleach? This sauce stain will NOT come up!" Miki demanded.

"Under the sink, left hand side," I replied without turning around. I could tell by the man's face that Miki had in fact, peeked around the corner, though.

"Th-th-th-that was Miki-sama!" the man stammered. I groaned. Great. A Miki fan. Thank God she wasn't singing Romantic Ukare Mode.

"Yeah, well, I gotta go," I said, starting to shut the door.

"How the hell did you get Fujimoto Miki in your apartment!?" the man exclaimed. I stopped and opened the door wider.

"...you have no idea who I am, do you?" I asked. The man looked over my messy hair and Adidas tracksuit.

"...Fujimoto's....brother?" THE HELL!?

"Ok, bye."

"YOCCHAN! I CAN'T FIND IT!" Miki bellowed. The man's eyes widened with recognition.

"HOLY SHIT! YOU'RE YOSHIZA-"

I slammed the door in his face and locked it.

"Who was that?" Miki asked. She was on her hands and knees, half inside the cabinet under my kitchen sink, apparently still searching for the bleach.

"Nobody," I replied, grabbing my cell phone to call UFA Security.

part 12

part 14

"100% Kataomoi" part 12

2007-10-04T20:55:00.003-06:00

MATSUURA - JUNE 16TH

I hummed tunelessly as I let myself into my hotel room. I flipped the lights on and glanced around the room. Ah! There it was. I walked over to my bed and bent down to pick up my fallen wallet off of the floor. I started to leave, but paused, glancing over at the door connecting my room to Mikitty's.

"I should be nice..." I said to myself, walking over to the door. I know she's probably in bed already, I thought, but I should see if she wants anything to eat. Knocking softly on the door, I pushed it open.

I recoiled back against the door as a black lace bra came whizzing past me, almost smacking me in the face. My jaw dropped.

Miki. Naked. On her bed. With some dark-haired girl on top of her. A girl wearing only panties whose bra (I'm assuming since Miki's was lying in the corner) was the one that had accosted me.

"FUJIMOTO MIKI, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" I yelled before I could stop myself. My naked best friend looked at me in shock for a moment before looking up at the girl above her.

"What am I doing!?" Miki countered, rolling out from underneath her playmate and sauntering over to me. "What are you doing barging into my hotel room?" I glared at her.

"I'm sorry! I thought maybe you were hungry!" I gestured to her flushed, naked body. "Apparently I was right."

"Ha ha. Can you go now?"

"What are you doing, Tan?" I asked quietly. "Are you seriously throwing away Yossy for some random girl?" Miki's eyes widened for a split second before settling into her normal glare.

"Regardless of my relationship status, I don't see how it's any of your business who I sleep with," Miki said loudly. The other party cleared her throat a little. I started to look over, but Miki stepped over, blocking my view. "Talk to me. She has nothing to do with this."

"You know, you're right. It isn't really any of my business who you decide to have sex with," I stated, feeling my face start to color with anger. "Except for the fact that I do like Yossy and I - "

"Are you going to tell her?"

"What!?" I exclaimed, staring at Miki in disbelief.

"Are you going to tell her?" she repeated.

"I..." I trailed off. On one hand, Mikitty's my best friend. On the other hand, Yoshizawa's being cheated on and someone really needs to tell her. And seriously, what the hell IS Miki thinking... But...

"Well?" Miki crossed her arms.

"Tan, I'm sorry, but I can't promise I won't say anything to Yossy - especially not if she asks me," I said finally.

"OH REALLY!?" Miki exclaimed, raising her eyebrows.

"No offense, but I think I already know," an amused voice piped up.

"You ruined my fun!" Miki complained, puffing out her cheeks. My jaw dropped as I looked over at the bed. I tilted my head to one side and walked towards the dark-haired girl sitting on the edge of the bed, modestly clutching one of the pillows to cover her bare chest.

"...Yossy?" I said in disbelief.

"Yes?" she replied.

"You dyed your hair!"

"Yep."

"You came back early from Spain!"

"Also true."

"You..." I trailed off and backed away from the mostly naked tomboy. I looked over at Miki and laughed nervously. "Whoops. I'll, um, just be going..."

"I can't believe you thought I'd cheat on Yocchan!" Miki exclaimed.

"Do we really need to get into this now?" Yossy groaned, shaking her head.

"Well, what was I supposed to think?!" I demanded. "I come into your room and find you naked in bed with some dark-haired girl while, to my knowledge, your girlfriend - who last I knew had some brownish-red thing going on - is out of the country!"

"Why is everyone so preoccupied with my hair?" Yossy mused to herself.

"Aya, come ON!" Miki retorted, walking over to the bed. She yanked the pillow out of Yoshizawa's grasp. "If you had THIS, would you do anything to mess it up?"

"MIKI, WHAT THE HELL!?" Yossy yelled, turning bright red. She scrambled wildly for something to cover herself with before finally grabbing the other pillow out from under the covers.

I blinked. Wow, she blushes with her entire body...

"Not cool, Fujimoto," Yossy said, glaring at her girlfriend and clutching the pillow to her bare skin protectively.

"Please, you were buttass naked to the world on that balcony in Hawaii," Miki rolled her eyes.

"Excuse me?" I said, looking between the two.

"Ok, that's a great story and all, but, um..." Yossy said, giving Miki a pointed look. Holding the pillow carefully against herself to prevent another flashing incident, she got up and walked over to me. "You know, it's great to see you, Ayaya, and we really should all hang out more, but, well, I was kind of in the middle of something, so..." She unceremoniously pushed me back into my room and slammed the door shut. I could hear Miki's laughter before it was abruptly cut off.

I blinked several times and looked around my empty hotel room.

"What just happened there?" I muttered to myself, picking Yoshizawa's bra off of the floor.

part 11

part 13

"100% Kataomoi" part 11

2007-10-04T20:55:00.001-06:00

FUJIMOTO - JUNE 16TH

"You're heading back to your room already?" Aya asked incredulously. "I thought we could go out..."

"She didn't finish taping until like nine pm there, so I was up until almost five in the morning on the phone," I yawned. "And then you got hyper and barged into my room at eight... and then we had rehearsals and the actual concerts..." I yawned again. Aya smiled sympathetically.

"When does Yoshizawa get back?"

"Tomorrow.... well, really late tonight technically, but I'll see her tomorrow."

"And it'll be all..." Aya held her arms out dramatically and started running slow-motion, humming dramatically. She wrapped her arms around herself and spun around. "Yocchaaan~..." Aya exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. "Mikitaaaaaan~...." she replied to herself in a really low voice.

"Your Yoshizawa impersonation sounds like a bad drag queen and besides, she doesn't call me 'Mikitan'." I stifled back another yawn.

"Ok, you go get some sleep," Aya said, patting me patronizingly on the head. "If you wake up later, call me and we'll go do something, ok?" I nodded sleepily and headed off to my room.

I waved to the security guard before wandering down the long hallway to my hotel room. I'm not even sure why they got us hotel rooms since we were in Tokyo anyway, but given my state of exhaustion, I was grateful. I fumbled for my keycard and it took me about three tries to get the door to open because I kept putting the damn card in upside down.

I groaned as I finally pushed the door open. Leaning against the door to shut it, I dropped my purse on the floor and threw my jacket on the floor. I was about to take my shirt off when my eyes fell on the bed. I froze.

...Ok, I must have fallen asleep already, I thought. I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

Nope, there was still some random girl asleep on my bed. I looked around the room, expecting cameras or Aya to jump out of the door connecting our two rooms.

Nothing. The girl mumbled something and shifted from facing the wall until she was lying on her stomach with her black hair spilling over the pillow.

Ok, that's not Sayu or Koharu... the hair's too short for either of them. And it's not Eri... the body type's all wrong...

I blinked again and walked over to the bed.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM!?" I bellowed. The girl jumped and started to push herself off of her stomach. Shit. Stupid Miki, don't confront the possibly violent crazy stalkers, go get security! I turned and walked swiftly over to the door, throwing it open.

"SECU-" A hand clasped itself over my mouth and a strong arm lifted me up and pulled me back inside, kicking the door shut. SHIT. I'm dead. I'm going to be killed by Random Hotel Girl.

No! What am I thinking? I'm Fujimoto Freaking Miki!

I went into offensive and swiftly brought my arm back.

"Miki-" My elbow connected with her gut just as I recognized the familiar sleepy voice. Horrified, I turned around and stared at my girlfriend doubled over, coughing.

"Oh my Gah, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, bending down next to Yossy. "I thought you were trying to kill me!"

"No, but I think I'm gonna puke now," she half-laughed, half-groaned. I smacked her on the arm.

"When did you get back?"

"I took an early flight. I got in about 6 hours ago. I wanted to surprise you," She winced and rubbed her stomach. "Apparently it worked." I helped her up off of the floor, grinning like an idiot as my eyes took in the long-missed sight of her eyes, her moles, her smile, her...

...wait a second.

"YOCCHAN, WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HEAD?!" I exclaimed, grabbing her black locks and staring at them in shock. She laughed.

"I had to go natural for the drama. Since I got in early, they moved my hair appointment to today."

"You're almost unrecognizable!" I studied her critically, running my fingers through her hair, trying to decide my position on this new development.

"You've seen me with black hair before," she replied, looking extremely amused.

"Yeah, but..."

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I just... you look different, but I can't quite pinpoint what it is," I mused.

"Uh, my hair is black?"

"You look girly!" I proclaimed, clasping my hands together triumphantly. "You actually look feminine like this."

"...'actually'?" she repeated.

"Don't get all defensive. You know what I mean."

"Mmm."

"I missed you," I said quietly, looking up at her. Her face broke into a grin and she grabbed me by the waist and spun me around. Setting me back down, she leaned her forehead against mine.

"I missed you too," she replied before pushing me backwards. Shocked, I faltered a little bit before I landed on the bed. I blinked in surprise. "Didn't realize I'd gotten you over here, huh?" she smirked, climbing on top of me.

"Damn, I love you."

"I love you too."

part 10

part 12

"100% Kataomoi" part 10

2007-10-04T20:54:00.003-06:00

YOSHIZAWA - JUNE 15TH

"What the hell is it?" Miki demanded sleepily.

"Hello to you too!" I grinned broadly into the cell phone the company had lent me to use.

"Yocchan!?" she exclaimed. I could almost see her sitting up in bed, smiling and rubbing her eyes.

"Of course! Who else would be calling you at this hour?"

"Oh, well, I DO run that phone sex line out of my apartment now," she deadpanned. "But since I like you, there's no charge." I coughed and glanced over at my young charge.

"Uh, right, so I'm in my hotel room in Spain with Megumi," I said pointedly.

"Ah, so you don't want to hear about what I'm wearing?"

"Probably not a good - "

"Or more specifically, what I'm not?" Miki continued, unfazed. I coughed again.

"Yoshizawa, did you need some water?" Megumi asked, glancing up from her scrapbook. I laughed nervously.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you," I replied.

"Fine with what?" Miki demanded in my ear. "I'm certainly not fine with you halfway across the world instead of here in my comfy bed. Preferably naked."

"Would you stop that?" I hissed into the phone. Miki started cackling.

"Is that your boyfriend?" I froze and turned to look at Megumi's question young face. I laughed nervously.

"Of course not!" I exclaimed a little too loudly. "Idols don't have boyfriends!"

"What was that, Tomiko?" Miki asked. My eyes widened and I glared at the phone in my hand.

"What did I tell you about that!?" I whispered fiercely, trying to fight back the blush that was threatening my features. Megumi was staring at me oddly.

"Yocchan, if you don't want the girl to hear you, why don't you go down to the lobby or something?" Miki asked.

"Uh, because then anyone can hear me?" I replied.

"Uh, you're in Spain?" Miki mimicked me. "I doubt many people there will A) understand Japanese and B) give a crap what you're saying if they do." I blinked. Oh.

"Um, Megumi, I'm going to finish my call downstairs, ok? Did you need anything while I'm down there?"

"No, thank you," the young girl replied. I smiled and walked out the door.

"Fine, I'm going to the lobby, ok?" I said into the phone.

"Good. So how was your day? Any luck?"

"YES!" I said excitedly. A man in the hallway stared at me strangely. "Not only did we SEE Ronaldinho, we MET him!"

"You're kidding."

"NO! He signed my shirt AND shook my hand!" I all but squealed. Miki laughed.

"You thought to bring a shirt for him to sign?"

"No, I mean he, um, signed my shirt. As in - "

"You let some guy write on your boobs?" Miki said in a strange voice.

"First of all, it was RONALDINHO. Not some guy."

"Mmhmm..." Miki didn't sound convinced.

"And second, I was good and pulled my shirt away from my chest so, no, he did not touch my boobs at all, ok?"

"Good."

"...was that a little Fujimoto jealousy I heard?" I teased.

"Of course," she said flatly. "Only I get to touch your boobs."

"Oh, I see."

"And your legs... and your stomach... and your shoulders... and your cute little butt... and your back... ooh, and your arms too, especially when I can see your muscles... and of course, it should go without saying, your - "

"I'm still in public here, Miki!" I cut her off, glancing nervously around the lobby.

"Does that mean I can't tell you what I'm wearing now?" Miki chuckled.

"Don't make me hang up on you, Fujimoto."

"I'd like to see you try, Tomiko."

part 9

part 11