Tasuki woke around 6 that morning, a usual occurance in the past year and a half. He rolled over and pulled the sleeping man beside him into his embrace, treasuring these few precious moments that only morning and night granted him. The moments when he could be with his love and pretend that things were alright. Kouji tried to tell him that the pretending just made the days harder, but for Tasuki, it was these moments of normalacy that allowed him to carry on through the days. The former red head, whose fiery locks were now grey, leaned closer to his love, his nose in the now grey blue locks and breathed deeply the familiar comforting scent. A smell he had woken up to for over 30 years. In these brief moments when that familiar scent filled his nose and the comforting weight of the one he loves settles in his arms, he almost forgets that it's all just fantasy.
The person in his arms stir and he glances down at the face of his lover as that single mahogany eye flutters open. Pain grips his heart when he sees no recognition there and he removes his arms after placing a small kiss on the still awakening ex monk. He forces his voice to be normal as he greets Chichiri the same way he has for the past year and a half. "Good Morning, Chichiri. Are ya hungry?" He rose and got dressed quickly, still carrying on his one sided conversation to the man laying in the bed.
Gathering up clothes for his lover, he started to go over the day's activities with Chichiri as he approached the bed. However he stopped talking when he felt how slightly warm his lover's skin was and finally noted the flush in his cheeks which couldn't be attributed to sleep. He shook his head and dressed his lover, knowing that Chichiri would stay put all day, if he didn't move him. He would just have to keep an eye on him today and make him rest if he got any worse.
He shaves his faceHe combs his hair He helps him find his rocking chair He cooks his meals He wipes his mouth And the window that he's looking out He reads him books He speaks his name Oh every day is much the same He sighs that sigh from deep within The one that says He misses him
He started up his normal chatter with his silent partner and led him towards the dining area. When Chichiri had fallen ill, Tasuki had returned with the monk to the bandit hideout and had been welcomed back by the new leader, Kenji, Kouji's son. The bandits understood that Tasuki would be staying for awhile, at least until the monk passed on, as he would never get better and had all pitched in. They demanded nothing of their old leader, knowing that he had given so much back when he had run the joint. They provided meals and security for the last two seishi. Tasuki's only job was to take care of Chichiri. However, he still found time to give advice and wisdom to his former bandits and they took it eagerly. He still thought it amusing that he was offering advice and wisdom and he knew if Chichiri was still in his right mind, the monk would tease him to no end about it.
Settling his love in a comfortable chair, he slowly fed him. It was as it had been many times before, at least in the beginning. He had been looking at the bowl of porridge, spooning some up and realized that he felt like someone was looking at him. He glanced around him, seeing no one and then looked to Chichiri, spoon rising when he froze. The monk was looking directly at him, something he hadn't done in over a year. Usually he looked straight ahead, or through Tasuki if he was in his direct line of sight. Now, however, that single mahogany eye was focused on Tasuki and gazing at him. It took Tasuki's breath away. "Chichiri?"
The monk looked down at the spoon and then back up and Tasuki tried to quelch the hope stirring in him. He raised the spoon and fed his love. The whole time, Chichiri never looked away from Tasuki's face.
The porridge done, he set it aside and blinked at the blank stare in his lover's eyes again and reached out to touch the older man's hand. That is when he felt it. The unmistakable feeling that accompanied the death of a Suzaku warrior. He stared in shock as the feeling grew slightly and then pulled back from his lover, denial ringing in his head.
With great effort, he drew back his panic and realized that the feeling was slowly growing, as if Suzaku was giving him warning that it was imminent, a chance to say goodbye. He stood and left his love sitting there, moving towards the door, calling out to Kouji when he arrived there. He didn't stand and wait for his old friend to arrive before returning to Chichiri and had just helped Chichiri rise when the greying former bandit entered, leaning heavily on a cane. "Yeah? Ya call?"
Tasuki glanced towards his oldest friend. "I need ya to send word that my children need to come, now." Kouji glanced at his friend and then Chichiri, who was gazing at the former bandit again, having turned his head to do so. "Chichiri?" Kouji's voice was soft, but the monk turned and looked at the man who spoke and Kouji blinked in shock. "He's gettin better." He gave Genrou a delighted smile that fell from his lips the moment he saw Tasuki's face.
"No, he's gettin worse. He's dyin. Contact my children, please, so they can say good bye ta him." With that he led Chichiri out of the room, leaving Kouji to gape after them in shock before he turned and went to get his son to send his fastest men two towns over, to the village where Tasuki and Chichiri had raised their children.
He misses his gentle touch And the way he used to make him laugh He misses the man he was In all of those old photographs So strong, so kind, so sweet, so smart The man who stole his very heart He misses him
Tasuki settled Chichiri back in bed and settled into the chair that was beside it. He reached for the current book he had been reading to Chichiri, something that had confused the other bandits when they heard about it. Since when could Genrou read? However, a wrinkled hand stopped him from picking it up. He glanced up to see Chichiri's eyes back on his face. Then something happened that hadn't happened in so long. Chichiri spoke. "Tasuki."
Tasuki blinked back tears and moved from the chair to the bed and sat beside his lover. "Hai, it's me, Chiri." The monk looked at his closest friend and love and smiled very slightly "Fog" Tasuki blinked and frowned "Fog?"
The monk nodded slightly "It's like fog in head." His words were lisped and since the right side of his face was slack, his smile was uneven, but he was talking to Tasuki and Tasuki cared not of these differences.
Chichiri seemed to pull back into himself before returning. "I love you. I've been watching, just couldn't answer or show." He seemed to struggle with words and got a frustrated look on his face. "I'm leaving." The monk then reached up to touch Tasuki's face with his left hand, wiping away tears that the bandit didn't know he had been shedding. "Don't cry, koi."
Tasuki turned his face into the hand, kissing Chichiri's palm. "I miss ya so much, Chiri." He nuzzled the hand and looked at Chichiri who nodded again. "I know, no da. Soon I go and you stay." Tasuki's golden eyes closed in pain and he gave out a shuddering breath. However he opened them again as Chichiri spoke once more, his words becoming more strained as if fighting with himself to get them out before the fog returned. "I will come for you when you go too." The words puzzled Tasuki for barely a moment and then he caught Chichiri's meaning. The monk would be waiting for Tasuki when the bandit finally passed on.
Chichiri's hand fell away and he leaned back into the bed, silent once more, but his eyes focusing on Tasuki. When they unfocused, the bandit pulled out a handkerchief and blew his nose and wiped his face and then grabbed the book, hoping it would calm his nerves and soothe his pain.
His children come on Saturday Their at his feet His grandkids play It's sad they don't know him at all He's just the one they call grandpa They take out his trash They mow his lawn Things he can't do since he's been gone He's grateful that they're pitching in And like everyone He misses him
His voice was growing rusty from reading a few hours later. Tasuki still lay on the bed and Chichiri had eventually cuddled against his warm partner in another moment of clarity, asking Tasuki to keep reading. The former bandit looked up when a knock sounded on the door and was lowering the book when Kouji appeared. He blinked at the way Chichiri cuddled against his friend and then looked to Genrou. "They are here. I think it would be best you explain what is happening before they see him. I take it he has shown more signs of life?"
Tasuki nodded "Yes, but that feeling grows stronger with each time he speaks or looks to me." Kouji blinked "He spoke to you?" He already knew without being told what feeling Genrou spoke of.
Genrou gave a nod and moved gently from his lovers side, Chichiri stirring softly and making a small displeased sound. Tasuki froze at the sound and looked guiltily at his love, knowing he should warn his children before they saw their Papa, but not wanting to leave Chichiri alone. Kouji settled it by settling into the chair next to Chichiri's bed. "Go, I'll sit with him."
Genrou nodded and silently left the room, hurrying, no doubt to his children as Kouji turned his attention onto his friend on the bed.
Kouji was not one to deny Tasuki time with Chichiri, but Kouji loved the monk like a brother, something that had surprised him at first. This moment of silence gave Kouji a chance to say his own good byes. He was just finishing with his thoughts and looked towards the man lying in the bed when he blinked. Chichiri was looking at him. He leaned forward and grasped one of the monks hand, smiling slightly when a slight pressure back was given to his own hand. "I'll miss you, Chichiri. I love you like a brother and I can never tell you how happy you made me by being what you were to Genrou." He broke off as tears formed in his eyes, and he looked down at their joined hands. Chichiri's raw voice startled him and he looked up as the monk said softly. "Look for Tasuki, Kouji. We will meet again, me and you, no da." The monk fell silent then, a soft smile on his lips as he met Kouji's eyes and then closed his tiredly. Kouji just nodded. "Hai, I'll watch out for Genrou and I do look forward to seeing you again, Chichiri-san." The smile deepened slightly on the older man's face before his breathing evened out in sleep and the door opened, revealing Tasuki and his two children, their spouses and Chichiri and Tasuki's 3 grandchildren.
The former bandit stood, and wiped his eyes. He caught Genrou's look and understanding passed between them. The man limped from the room as Tasuki approached, their children behind them. He returned to his seat and settled back as tears began to flow as their children gave their good byes to their papa. Thanking him for taking them in when their original parents had died. Tasuki knew the words were aimed at him too, but said nothing. He was glad he had sent for them.
The family spent much time with them that day, and Chichiri did awaken enough, both physically and mentally to say he loved them before he slipped back into what he called fog. The children left later that night, going to rooms that had been prepared for them and left their parents alone at last.
He misses his gentle touch And the way he used to make him laugh He misses the man he was In all of those old photographs So strong, so kind, so sweet, so smart The man who stole his very heart He misses him
And yes they're still together After all these years But sometimes you can almost feel The sadness in his tears
It was early morning when a light touch on his face woke the former bandit. He looked over in the dim light of the flickering lantern at the face of his love who was once again watching him. "I'm leaving soon, Tasuki." His voice was clear and strong now and Tasuki knew it was almost time. "Hikou and Kouran are waiting for me." He smiles softly and looks at Tasuki. "Take your time, don't rush to me. I will return to you when it is your time, no da." Tasuki nods softly, tears rushing down his face and he leans close and kisses his love softly. "I will miss you till we are together again."
"Hai, me too, no da." Chichiri pulls back, thanking Suzaku that damned fog had been lifted at last. The recent past was just a blur and he didn't know what had happened, but it seemed Tasuki had gotten older in the time he had been in the fog. "I will always love you, from now till the end of time, no da."
The two met in a loving embrace and kissed tenderly one last time before Chichiri lay back on the bed, exhausted. He closed his eyes, laced his fingers with Tasuki and breathed his last.
Tears ran down Tasuki's face as the unmistakable pain of losing a fellow warrior overwhelmed him. As much as losing the others had hurt him, to lose the one he loved above all else hurt him even more. He leaned over one last time and kissed Chichiri before letting out a heartbreaking cry that woke all within the bandit strong hold.
He misses his gentle touch And the way he used to make him laugh He misses the man he was In all of those old photographs So strong, so kind, so sweet, so smart The man who stole his very heart He misses him
Tasuki walked shakily, leaning heavily on a cane as he hobbled into the Suzaku shrine. He gave a small bow to the shrine and then walked forward and removed the kesa from the shrine and held it to his face. Until this time, in the whole 10 years he had been alone, 8 of those years spent in the palace as an advisor and distinquished guest, he had not approached the warrior items. Now he needed comfort. He knew what was happening, could feel it in every cell of his body. Chichiri had said in that final moment of clarity that he would be there waiting when Tasuki died, and Tasuki believed him. However, in his final moments, he wanted a physical connection to the monk.
Holding the kesa, he turned and left the shrine. No one stopped him, although a few guards knew what he held in his hands. Who was going to deny the last remaining warrior whatever he wished? No one, that's who.
Tasuki found himself at the lake where he had watched the monk fish so many times before they had all started on the journey and afterwards, while visiting the palace. He sat upon the ground, to tired to climb onto what he dubbed Chichiri's Rock and gazed at the setting sun, the kesa wrapped around his thin, frail shoulders.
Gods, he was tired. All he wanted was to close his eyes and let death come. He knew he was ready. He had been ready since he said good bye to Chichiri 10 years before. Glancing up, he felt a presence next to him and turned. Slowly the ethereal form of Chichiri appeared beside the bandit and sat down, mask in place, hand smooth with youth.
"Hi, no da."
Tasuki smiled at his love, his heart lighter then it had been in a long time, since even before Chichiri had passed on. "Hi yerself."
Chichiri studied the man beside him, taking in the kesa and smirked slightly, sliding off his mask. "Did you need comfort in the end, no da? I told you I would be here." Tasuki nodded "I trusted ya to show up, but I did want some physical comfort, no da." His voice had taken on a slight teasing quality and the spirit beside him laughed merrily. "Whenever you are ready, Tasuki. Our friends are rejoining us now in heaven and we are discussing reincarnation. We are just waiting on you."
Tasuki blinked at him, realizing that the reincarnated forms must have passed out of this life early if he was the last one left, or one of the last. "Hai, I'm ready. I have been for some time."
Chichiri gave a nod and stood, leaning his hand down to the bandit and he pulled him up when their fingers met. Tasuki looked down at the now deceased mortal shell of his, morbidly curious. Chichiri shook his head with a small laugh. "You never change, no da."
The feiry haired bandit grinned a toothy grin at his love. "Race ya there." The two ran to heaven and their friends, together, on to a new life.
(A/N I was going to not put the last part in and let it end with Chichiri's death, but I felt that would be too sad. What did you all think. I know, when people have strokes (as that is what Chichiri had) they don't regain their wits at the very end, but Chichiri is a Celestial Warrior and this was a final gift from Suzaku, to be able to say good bye properly. This is a reincarnation fic, although it won't be a long one. I had an idea and wanted to work it in. The whole brother thing with Kouji was necessary for the next part of it, no da.)
