~~~

Maruko...You were my savior when I went to France. I was lost and all alone...But there...I found you...You were sweet, kind, and everything I needed...You filled that lonely space within my broken heart. You made me forget...But I can never forget...For some reason my heart would not let me. And now, I feel so out of place. I love you but still...My heart still aches at the smallest fact that can be so heart shattering -

You're Not Toki-chan...

~~~

He smiled cheerily as he drove to work on the sunny morning. Everything seemed so perfect. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. He was even singing. The sky was clear. Children walked hand in hand with their parents. Friends talking as they take a soft stroll. And lovers were walking together on the road...

And that brought a frown to his smile. 'Lovers...'

He wondered if Fuuko had gone so far with Maruko as to...to... He couldn't finish the thought. Actually, he could. But he didn't want to. The thought of his Fuuko becoming that intiment with a guy would drive him crazy...or at least more so that he was but now. Fuuko was his, and even if she had...

It didn't matter...it would not matter...he would still love her, no matter what. He had waited so long for her...he had never felt the want for someone as he did to her.

He sighed, as he looked up upon the building that was his life the past years when Fuuko had left him. There was but a meeting today, and Maruko would be presented there also.

What would they do when they saw each other? Act amiable? It would be nice little charade...but sooner or later, Maruko would begin to question him. And then, when he found out how close he and Fuuko were... Maruko would probably force him to stay away from her...

'Away from my Fuuko?' The realization hit him. Hard. It would be impossible to live with out her. It was like taking away air from a man.

Impossible. It would be like a death stroke.

He needed her. He couldn't function without her, weather or not she knew it. They had been together for nearly 14 years now...more than half their lives. He knew that...

That what?

Fuuko had already moved on. She had found a new partner. A dark thundercloud could practically be seen as Tokiya rode the elevator to the top. And when the doors opened...

Brown hair. Piercing dark brown eyes...

It was Maruko, the President of their company. And so while everyone else on the elevator scurried to get away, Tokiya stood there calmly, un-knowingly eyeing his 'competition.'

"Hello." Maruko had spoken the first word.

"Hello, Maruko." Cold, formal words...For the man that had stolen Fuuko's heart. He stepped out of the elevator. They were nearly the same height, but it was Tokiya who had an inch taller than him.

"How are you?" Makuro asked.

"I'm fine...and you?" Tokiya answered with the same tone.

Oh, so they were going for polite? Tokiya knew that Maruko was sizing him up, too. It wasn't hard to miss, the brown eyes narrowed, and scanning him, up and down. He could only imagine what  was thinking.

"I'm fine, Tokiya."

And then, the conversation was off, and they had decided to talk about the designs of the new buildings that were being put up.

'So,' Tokiya thought, 'I guess that this is how it will always be...Completely talking about work, and never about the woman that means the most to us both...Fuuko...'  And so they left to walk to the conference rooms, exchanging ideas and prices, ignoring the fact that both men, although Makuro did not know it, were in love with the same woman.

Fuuko...

~~~

Fuuko walked into the building- the building she leased with Michirure-and climbed up 3 flights of stairs. It was quite odd, really. She should have been tired. After all, she had been up until 5AM talking to Tokiya on the phone...

But she wasn't.

Surprisingly, she was awake. Very awake. She felt...rejuvenated. Like she hadn't felt since...

She blinked, and stopped, her leg in mid-step.

Like she hadn't felt since...she had lived with Tokiya, 2 years ago...
 
She hadn't felt so happy since she was...In love...With...*Him*...'Oh no...Oh no, oh no, oh no.' It couldn't be...She couldn't be...She shook her head furiously. 'Oh god...no...it's not true...'

It wasn't possible. She had Maruko...and he was everything to her.

*Everything*

Her brain fought an argument with her heart, as she continued to trudge up the steps. 'You're over him. You've been over him since you walked away 2 years ago...'

'Maruko is an excuse. You know that you will never love Maruko as much as you loved Tokiya.'

'Maruko will always be there. There is no doubt where his heart lies. Tokiya, on the other hand...you can never tell.'

'But wouldn't you be willing to take the risk? The risk of being...the happiest woman in the world?' She shook her head, clearing all her thoughts. She was determine to focus and business today- not her love life. Finally reaching the top of the steps, she pushed open the door and walked briskly, past her secretary and into her office. Michirure was there, waiting for her.

"Fuuko-chan, a friend of yours called today." She raised a suggestive eyebrow.

Fuuko grinned and thought, 'You see? Maruko does care! He probably called to say that he loves me. He always did that in France.' Setting her briefcase down, she said to Michirure, "Really? What time did Maruko call? Was it very impor-"

Those green eyes showed amusement as she interrupted Fuuko. "It *wasn't* Maruko. It was another man...Tokiya...?"

Fuuko's eyes grew large, and she whispered, "Toki-chan?"

A rich laugh. "'Toki-chan'? Why, Fuuko-chan, getting pretty friendly with they guys around here?"

"Of course not!" Fuuko snapped. "How dare you even say so! You know I love Maruko." The last part she whispered, to basically console her beating heart.

"Sorry, Fuuko-chan! You knew that I was just kidding! And besides, I know about Maruko and he's practically devotion to you! Geez...All I want to know is who this 'Toki-chan' is! And why he has such a personal nickname!"
 Fuuko had never told Michirure about Tokiya when they had met each other in France...

"And if he's cute or not!"

She thought that it would be best for some secrets to stay secrets.

"Is he single? God knows that I need a man in my life!"

She didn't want Michirure to know Tokiya. Michirure was a woman of the world, and she could conquer any man.

"Hey, Fuuko? Fuuko-chan, are you listening to me?"

Green eyes peered intuitively at the dark eyes of Fuuko's.

"Hai..."  She said softly, as she spoke up, "It's just..."

"Toki-chan...he isn't the man for you..." she said quickly, as Michirure stared at her in surprise.

"And why is that?"

"Because... I..."

Her voice broke, as she took a deep breath.

"I use to be in love with him..."

Setsuna stared at him.

"And I still might be..."

She began to retell the story of years ago and what had drawn her away from her home.

~~~
Author's notes:

Okay, here's I think the second part? Or the third part? I think this is chapter seven.

Hey! I want to be flamed! Complimented! Commented...is there such a word? Anything! E-mail me here: chi_chan1012@hushmail.com=20