Playing with Fire
^_^-
Hello! This is my first Tasuki and Miaka fic! *Smiles* And I'm really looking forward to joining this section of ff.net. ^_^
I went back and changed many things and even added some stuff to the story. I guess you could say some aspects of the story didn't seem original. I'm still a little unsure of myself in my writing so if something doesn't seem right then please let me know. Oh! And one more thing. Let's see some more Tasuki and Miaka fics! *Laughs giddily* Together we can destroy the common pairing of Tama and Miaka and enhance it to greater lengths!! *Laughs evilly* 1_^-
Disclaimers - I do not own Fushigi Yugi or any of its characters. I just take them *Grabs Tasuki plushie* and twist their lives *Grabs Miaka plushie* and bend them to my sick will! *Cuddles them possessively* Bwuahahaha!
1_^
Chapter 1
Tasuki held Miaka tight against him, her scent enveloping all his senses. She pressed herself tight against his body and he bit in a sharp breath to cool himself off. "Listen you little spitfire, if you continue to . . . 'attach' yourself against me, there might be consequences." She knew his words were a teasing warning but she couldn't help but look in to his deep amber eyes with a challenging expression hidden deep within her smile.
"What type of consequences?" she teased.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" With a sheepish look on her face she gazed downward and noticed his wanting.
"Oh!"
"Oh is right," he purred against her throat. She shivered as his purr vibrated through her flesh and deep within her throat, and heart.
~*~ A Week Before
Miaka stared hard at her reflection in the mirror standing opposite of her. Tilting her head slightly to the side she let out a long and exasperated sigh. Nothing staring back at her seemed to be right. In fact, it was all so ABSOLUTELY WRONG!
Her soft green eyes let out a shimmering jewel that caressed her cheek and softly dropped down to graze her soft throat. Miaka's bottom lip started quivering like a small child's would when denied. "No. No. No!" She cried. "This isn't right!!"
Yui's demented chuckle rang softly in her ears. "Miaka. . ."
"Don't you DARE come in here you baka!" Miaka screeched in agony. Again Yui's evil laugh rang out and tickled Miaka's last nerve. Not a single thing about her current situation seemed funny to poor Miaka.
Keiske and Tetsuya lounged on two small chairs halfway across the room from the battling divas. "Do you think this is going to take long?" Tetsuya asked his best friend with pleading eyes, or as pleading as his eyes could be behind a pair of dark glasses.
Keiske lowered his head and sighed miserably, "Doesn't it usually?"
Tetsuya joined him and hung his head with the same sigh. The sigh that men only let utter through their lips when they were with women. Not only women, but women shopping. Not only women shopping, but Miaka and Yui shopping!
"Ya know," Tetsuya cooed in Keiske's direction. "If ya had just let her get the one she wanted then none of this would've happened! I mean it IS her prom, not yours." The last few words were spat with playful hatred.
Keiske groaned and threw his hands up in defeat. "Dammit! I know that!"
"Miaka and Yui only have one week of school left anyway and then they'll be independent, educated adults." Tetsuya laughed.
"Come off it! Miaka. . . independent, educated, and an adult all at once! That might overload her delicate senses!" Keiske half laughed and half truly spoke as a proven fact. Tetsuya joined him in his soft laughter, not because he thought Miaka couldn't achieve womanhood, but because of Keiske's big brother instincts that seemed to cloud his judgement of her.
'She's accomplished so much and has become a beautiful woman with a pure heart. Both Miaka and Yui,' he thought. He was very proud of both of them. He gazed out of the corner of his eyes as his dear friend. 'I just hope you can come to terms with Miaka's growing up,' he sighed to himself.
"Listen, I know letting go is hard but it has to be done and the sooner you get it over with the sooner you can move on," Tetsuya spoke softly.
Keiske sighed. "How can I let go when I have to protect her -" He was cut off by Tetsuya's loud cough. "Okay, maybe I could start to let go," he started until he came to a thought that struck him hard. "But then who is going to protect her?!" Dramatically he held his heart and spilled a few tears on the ground. "I must look after Miaka and provide her with all my brotherly heart from the evils that shroud our misguided world!"
Tetsuya couldn't help but laugh. "I think Taka would have a little problem with your position," he reminded Keiske.
Suddenly a cloud of seriousness enclosed around Keiske. "I guess I haven't told you."
Tetsuya gazed over at his friend with dreaded anticipation. "Please don't tell me what I think you're going to tell me."
With a heart felt sigh of utter sadness for Miaka spilling through his tight lips he uttered the bad news to Tetsuya. "Now don't tell Miaka but, I don't think Taka has any intention to take Miaka to her last dance."
Tetsuya's heart fell for his ' little sister'. "Please tell me I heard you wrong." But all Keiske did was nod his head to confirm his words. "Miaka is going to be heart broken. How do you know Taka isn't going to take her?"
"I guess it's just a feeling and I don't really have anything to back it up but -" Before he could finish he was once again cut off.
"I have noticed Taka's change in attitude toward her. I just wonder what happened inside that head of his." While stirring his thoughts he started to put pieces together. "Ah ha!"
Keiske looked up at his friend with his brows scrunched together. "And what are you Ah-ha-ing about?"
"That's why you've become a real stick up the ass big brother lately!" Keiske's mouth opened wide with shock. "What I mean is, that's why you've assumed your role as Miaka's protector. Are you really scared Taka isn't going to protect Miaka?"
Keiske nodded while raising his eyes to look up at the nothingness that lay upon the ceiling. "I know he'll protect her in the physical sense but as far as her heart goes. . . I'm unsure and I guess it scares me." How could Miaka ever hope to recover from the shock of knowing Taka wasn't going to be her date to her last dance. The one event he and her friends couldn't get her to shut up about! To her, this symbolized her last fling as a carefree adolescent. She had already given up her body to adult hood but to Miaka. . . she'd now be giving up her careless fantasies and child like dreams.
"But then why are you still buying her prom dress?" Tetsuya inquired.
"I guess I couldn't break her spirit and I also guess I'm just holding on to my faith in Taka." With nothing but silence between them Keiske and Tetsuya watched in amusement as Yui tried to coax Miaka out of her dressing room.
"Come on out and show the world what Miaka Yuuki has to offer!" Yui laughed, tugging at the curtain that protected the small dressing room. Miaka replied to her assault of her privacy by screaming and yanking the curtain back down. Frustrated by her best friend's uncooperative attitude Yui quickly released the curtain. "Come on Miaka! It can't be THAT bad!"
'Oh but it is, Yui! I can't believe my brother even thought of putting me such hell! Why I can't even believe he had the nerve to ask me to - AH!' The sudden change in pressure in their little tug-of-war game caused Miaka to fall backwards and land on her backside. "YUI!"
"So ya comin' out or am I going to have to go in after ya?" Yui sighed impatiently.
Out from the curtain popped Miaka's embarrassed and intensely reddened face. "Yui, do you promise not to make fun of me?!"
Yui let out a small chuckle, "Of course not!"
Taking extreme caution that no one else but Yui would see Miaka slowly opened the curtain and displayed her full image.
Yui's face was bulged with hidden laughter. "That. . . suits. . . you. . ." She gasped, careful not to explode with her deafening laughter.
Miaka's eyes again started to water. "Yui . . . "
"Shh! Don't say anything. Give it a twirl! Show off that sexy figure!"
Miaka hesitantly obliged her friend's wish and did a small and unenthusiastic twirl about. This small gesture was all Yu-chan could take. With an outburst loud enough to make a fire engine ashamed Yui fell to the floor and along with her came the curtain that hid Miaka's last shred of dignity.
Miaka let out a death-defying scream as she was exposed. Tetsuya raised his head and let his mouth drop open with extreme shock. "Ya know, this isn't really helping her grow up. You should have let her get the one SHE wanted."
Keiske sighed as he stared at his beloved sister. "I know that but. . ."
Like a fashion show host he stood and pointed at his sister. "Doesn't it suit her and her innocent personality?!" With extreme passion he continued on as many onlookers stared. "Look at the high top, to cover any cleavage, and the long bottom, to prevent panty viewing access, and how it sags and hides all her curves and creases! It's the perfect dress!!"
Miaka's right eye began twitching with irritation. "Keiske . . . " Her brother sheepishly gazed down. "Not only is this dress an embarrassment to the fashion world but. . . " With huge tears welling up in her eyes she exploded, "IT HAS LITTLE DUCKS AND RUFFLES ON IT!!"
Keiske gulped and stared at the hideous piece of clothing. She WAS right. Knowing he was defeated he hung his head and handed her his credit card. "Go get the one you wanted, it's to painful a procedure to me to execute."
Miaka squealed with delight and gave her brother a hug and then, just a quickly, skipped off with her partner in crime to the cashier's desk. Tetsuya laughed as he handed his best friend a shoulder to cry on. "She's growing up. You have to start letting her go, even if she does get hurt from time to time."
At first Keiske started to believe his best friend but then an angry thought crushed his heart. "And just when the hell did I give her the permission to grow up?!" Tetsuya just continued to laugh as he drug his dismayed partner out of the store leaving behind many astonished customers.
~*~
Tasuki couldn't help but laugh as the warm sake touched his lips and slithered down his throat. He knew he shouldn't be doing this to himself again but he really didn't feel as though he had much more of a choice. With so much clouding his thoughts he couldn't think of any other way to handle his feelings. If Chichiri knew that he was in the bar, trying to escape his problems, he'd be driven in to a long lecture about self control and determination and other types of spiritual shit that he didn't want to hear right now.
"Where the hell is that damned monk anyway?" he sighed as he laid his head on the bar. He let out a sigh as he realized tonight HIS partner in crime was busy meditating on the past day's events. Not that anything special happened but just to clear his mind in preparation for the next few days and what they held in store. He couldn't help but reveal a fanged smile as he faintly remembered Chichiri's advise to do some meditating of his own. 'Well, this is as close to meditating as I'm going to get!' he laughed to himself.
"Hello stranger," a soothing voice teased, "you're looking a little lonely. You need some company tonight?" Tasuki didn't even bother looking up or responding as he took another sip of the sake that stained his glass and his lips. He took a minute to round the top of the glass with his fingertips, trying to look busy.
"Excuse me," she cooed again and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Do you need anything, want anything?"
Tasuki hesitantly rolled his eyes up at her. His eyes held a cold depth that sent a small shiver down her back but she wouldn't go away. The woman looked to be in her late twenties but the added wrinkles and bags under her eyes hid her younger image. "Do I look like I need anything?" he muttered in a cold tone that seemed to freeze his beloved tessen strapped to his back. At first she was quite taken back but smiled as she realized the competition would be great to coax him to her bed.
"Well, many men hide their true desires. Is there a hidden desire you posses?" With a suggestive chuckle she lowered her head to blow lightly in his ear and she talked. He growled as she took one of his earrings in to her mouth and tugged on it. He let his deep and dangerous purr escaped his lips for two reasons. 1. - It had been so long since he'd been tamed. - and - 2. He was damn sure he wasn't to be tamed by some arrogant slut.
"Yes," was all he said.
"What is it you desire?" she teased now moving her hand from his shoulder to caress the soft fabric of his tunic with a smile of triumph.
Swiftly he grabbed her hand and held it tightly. "What I desire is. . . " Seductively the women smiled at him as she started to nuzzle his neck with her nose. ". . . nothing that you can give me. Now leave me t' hell alone." With that he threw her defiled hands away from him.
With complete shock she jumped up and stared hard at him. He met her gaze with a powerful glare. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do to fulfill you inner most desires?" She asked again, almost pleading with him.
"And what would you know about my inner most desires?!" He shouted as he stood and kicked the toe of his boots against the floor, adjusting them to fit around his feet comfortably.
Sadly enough, he knew this was the woman's job and even though he should show some compassion for her lowly life style he couldn't find himself to feel pity for her; however, he did feel a tinged of guilt as he met her desperate eyes. Maybe a little kindness would allow her the courage to leave the run down bar. 'Don't get optimistic on me now ya dumbass,' he warned himself with a chuckle.
"Please sir!" the woman begged throwing his thoughts off course. "There must be something I could do to make you happy, to bring you pleasure." Her eyes streamed with tears as she started to unlace the top that barely covered her large and scarred breast.
Anger built within him. 'Does this bitch understand I don't want anything her damned, overused body has to offer?' "Fine, hold out your damned hands and close your damned eyes!" With a whimper she obliged his rough command and opened out her hands to him. His plan was to just simply walk out and leave her in her current position but for some reason he couldn't find it inside himself to accomplish his goal. Acting with complete disgust he threw a few coins in to her hands.
She opened her eyes and stared at the coins shimmering lightly against her flesh. "Oh!" she cried and looked up at him with unsure gratitude. "So you accept my offer?"
While making sure his tessen was securely tucked between his shoulders his gaze never lost their intensity. "Not a chance in hell." And with that he escaped in to the night.
~*~
Miaka couldn't help but bite her bottom lip. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. With ever last inch of courage she found her voice. "But Taka," she whined. She could feel her heart break as his voice covered hers with his reassurance.
"Miaka, I'm sorry but this could really be big," Taka's voice cooed as it flowed from the receiver to Miaka's heart.
"Bigger than my senior prom?" she muttered.
"Perhaps."
Miaka's only reaction to his one sentenced execution was to blink away her tears. "Look, Miaka, I'm really sorry and I tried to reschedule but if they accept me in to their program- " From that point on Miaka closed herself to his words. She couldn't do anything else. 'How can I protest when he's just trying to better our future, I mean, how selfish would it be for me to hold him back from his dreams.'
After she had returned home from buying her dress she had run a nice hot bath and was about to enjoy the moment when the phone had rang. Like a possessed demon she clawed and scratched her way to the phone, several times tripping over her own feet.
Holding her robe close to her body and still trying to choke back her emotion she stifled a laugh and cautiously choice her words of acceptance. "Oh, I'm sorry Taka. I guess I was just a little shock but I'm okay now!" She waited for him to coax her and tell her he appreciated her sacrifice for his benefit but those words never came. In fact, no words came.
"Taka?" Miaka asked. The phone stood still and silent in her hands until a small click caught her attention.
"Miaka? You there?"
Miaka's heart soared at the sound of his happy voice. "What happened Taka? I was just telling you how happy I am for you and when you didn't answer I was scared that - "
Soon she was cut off by his serious tone. "Oh, I had another call. Anyway, listen Miaka, there's something I want to tell you-"
However, Miaka wasn't even sure if she wanted to listen at all. Not only had he cut her off but he didn't even bother apologizing! Miaka swallowed her anger and listened to him, trying to calm herself down.
~*~
The moon's pale gaze met him with open arms as he swiftly emerged in to the darkness. The changed of scenery was quite pleasant to his overindulged senses and even seemed to sober up his mind a bit. He moaned as the cool night breeze entangled its fingers in his wild hair. Promptly he plopped himself down on a soft patch of grass and stretched out. Tonight he would sleep well with the devil's liquid swimming in his system.
At least, he would have slept well with the sake swimming in his system until a certain little chibi monk approached him and bonged him on the head with his staff.
"Ahh! Dammit!" Tasuki cried as he held his head. "Who's there?!" Without even waiting for a reply, for he knew who is was, Tasuki glared down at his friend. "Why t'hell did you do that?!"
Chichiri gazed up at him, still in chibi form, and managed to smile even wider than it seemed possible. "I saw what you did, you know?"
Tasuki's face reddened a bit as he crossed his legs and protested to any grace coming his way. The last thing he really wanted was praise for any actions he had made. So just as cunningly as a sly fox he made up a lie. "I just didn't want her dirty hands grouping me, 's all! There's nothing else to it." He wanted to end the conversation there but the silence was covered with Chichiri's laugh. Feeling his anger boil up he spat, "Plus she wasn't really that attractive and she might have been poisonous or something. And even if she wasn't then I'd . . . uhm . . . Listen, it was nothing and I don't need you telling me I did a good job cause I don't deserve it! I intended on leaving her on the dirty floor even with tears in her fucking eyes! Does that sound like a noble thing to do?"
After taking the jumbled up speech in Chichiri bonged him on the head once again. "But you didn't, you know?" Chichiri wasn't about to be fooled by his fanged friend. Praise the Gods Tasuki did a bad job at lying. However, it really upset him when his friend bashed himself for doing something right for a change.
"Don't be afraid to admit you did something just and right. You should never be ashamed of those great accomplishments, you know?" Chichiri regained his normal size and sat next to his friend. He stared at Tasuki from behind the comfort of his mask. "How do you think the others are doing?" As soon as the words escaped his mouth he regretted them. He knew the statement would rile up many unpleasant memories but for some odd reason Chichiri felt as if he was supposed to bring the subject up and he always followed his gut instincts.
Sadly Chichiri looked down at the soft grass underneath his feet. The subject even brought him anguish. Although he knew all was okay, he couldn't help but miss Miaka and Taka. With the image of Miaka burned in his mind he looked up at Tasuki. He was plucking little pieces of the soft carpet up and ripping them in half. Only a couple of months has passed since Miaka has left but to poor Tasuki it seems like she left yesterday and has been gone forever.
Tasuki's heart jumped. He knew what Chichiri meant when he said 'others'. He didn't mean the other celestial warriors, he meant Miaka and . . . Taka. Tasuki let out a laugh and swatted his hand in the air. "Ah, you know that little baka! She's probably causing havoc and mayhem everywhere she goes!"
"Not to mention eating everything in her path, you know?" Chichiri laughed.
The nervous laughter lingering from Tasuki's mouth gave the gentle night a slight vibration of tension. Chichiri let go a small sigh as he studied Tasuki's clouded eyes.
"You know, some things are best left in the past, especially when already forgiven," Chichiri stated nonchalantly. Tasuki flashed him one of his dangerous looks, telling his friend to back away from the subject.
With that being said the monk headed toward a nearby tree and leaned against its soft bark. "Try to get some sleep, I have a feeling something interesting is going to be happening soon."
Tasuki flashed his friend a confident grin but as he turned on his side his smile died instantly. Gazing over the landscape he couldn't help but feel strangely tired. The curves of the soft hills matched the tempo the rolling mountains set in the background. The moon shining on the few trees that covered the field made them seem like jewels shining brighter than even the stars themselves. As hard as he tried to let the scenery lull him to sleep his body wouldn't listen. He let out a frustrated growl and he tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position to ease his body and mind.
~*~
Miaka could feel her heart race and face reddened. Here came the praises from her love. This was why she endured her small sacrifices, to hear Taka's happy voice over the phone and tell her how much she meant to him and how much he loved her.
"- I just wanted to let you know . . .
-^_^-
. . . that I'll be leaving tomorrow . . .
^_^'
. . . to see about a new class that teaches. . .
^^;
Miaka waited and half heartily listened until his voice lowered in to a husky whisper. Miaka awaited her love's words.
"- but I just wanted to say that I'll be back soon and I knew you'd understand."
X_x'
Miaka's forehead was covered with a single sweatdrop that lowered to the side of her face.
BEEP
"Opps, sorry Miaka that must be another call for me. I'll call you back later!"
Before he could hang up she caught his attention by making a small whining noise. "But, Taka, aren't you forgetting someth-"
"Miaka, this can wait for later. I need to answer this call."
Now Miaka would usually just let the conversation go at that and just give in to her love's desires but for some odd reason she didn't feel like following the same routine. "Wait, Taka."
"Miaka, this could be a really important call!" Miaka jumped back, a little startled by the frustration in his voice. There was a moment of silence before she answered him.
"But Taka, I just wanted to say that - "
click
Twice. Twice he had done that in just one phone call! Miaka's hands clenched in to little tight balls of fury. He just clicked over to the other call! He didn't even listen! Miaka had half the mind to slam the phone down when she heard the phone click back over.
"Dammit. I missed the call."
Hearing the irritation in his voice she looked down, ashamed of her actions. "Sorry." He muttered something not meant for her to here and then demanded what was so damn important that he had to miss his call. Then he added something that shocked and hurt her more than him leaving her on the line. -And it better be worth it.-
Not really scared but to tired to fight she just replied, "I guess I just wanted to say 'I love you.'"
"That's all?!"
"What do you mean, 'that's all'?!"
"I mean, I know you love me and I love you and. . . damn . . . that could have been that company calling about the new program!"
"Oh, that's right, you're leaving tomorrow," she sighed.
"You mean you forgot already?!"
Miaka's hot blood reacted to his cold attitude. "Hmph. As if you can talk about 'forgetting' things that are important!"
There was a LONG silence and Miaka felt her competitive spirit die. 'Taka, say something, please! Don't be mad at me!' She waited until she caught the smallest noise fuming.
"You want to talk about important?! Well, what's more important to you, achieving only the best to assure a secure future or a stupid midnight fling?!"
"Midnight fling?" she muttered softly. Was that all it was to him? Was that all she was to him?
"Well, what else was going to happen? Silly things like that are just romantic memories, what I'm talking about is the future."
"The future," she repeated.
"Look I'm going to try to figure out whom the hell just tried to call me okay?"
"Okay."
"Love ya' Miaka."
"You too, Tama." Miaka shuttered as she placed the phone down in its cradle. She didn't even bother to correct her mistake. Before she even put the phone down she could hear him yelling about how he wasn't Tama, he was Taka. That thought captivated her and held her in place for a minute. That's right; he is Taka and not Tama.
Taka has different somehow. He wasn't usually this cold to her. 'He's just stressed out and I shouldn't have pushed him so hard,' she thought.
With all being said and done she headed toward the bathroom to wash up and go to bed. No longer was she excited and hyper and . . . happy, but worn out and tired. As she passed her room she glanced at the dark black dress with streaks of fiery red blazing through it and the tiniest silver sparkles. Her hands ran across its soft length as dreams of her last dance faded away.
~*~
With a long sigh Tasuki rolled over on his back to meet that moon's gaze. The grass struggled to rest under his weight and the ground gave a little as he shifted positions. Though many thoughts crossed his mind only one truly stood out. A faint smile touched his fanged disposition as he pondered over what Miaka was doing.
~*~
Leaving the dress and her dreams behind her feet lightly grazed against the cool bathroom floor. With a hint of enthusiasm she undressed and stepped in to the warm pool of water. Before relaxing in the bath she turned to gaze upon her reflection. Clumps of massacre clung underneath her eyes. 'I guess I was crying after all.' Slowly she sat down, allowing her body to adjust to the difference in temperature. After she was cozy she just laid there, soaking in the delicious lapping of the water around her shoulders.
'I guess I was a little hard on Taka. He must really be hurt after I called him by the wrong name, AGAIN!' She sighed. The situation was just to much for Miaka to take in. She watched as her auburn hair swirled around her body. Disturbing the long tresses were small ripples. Closing her eyes she realized she was still crying. She wanted to be furious at Taka for telling her the one thing she dreamed about for a whole year was nothing but a midnight fling and afterward would be nothing more than pathetic memories but somehow couldn't find herself to be that angry.
While lowering her body in to the water and blowing a few bubble in to the water she grunted. Oh, how much she wanted those precious memories! When all is said and done the only thing left is memories. 'How could he neglect such wonderful treasures?!'
Why did this life have to be so damned confusing?! Even her life as the priestess of Suzuka seemed less confusing than now! A few moments passed and she repeated her bubble blowing with irritation. All that was left of her adventures through the book were her memories. . . and Taka. She sighed. Did that mean he saw their life together in the book as nothing more than a 'romantic memory'?
The tears that stung her eyes started dropping more rapidly, causing the pool of water around her to shiver. All of her warriors were in the book. Were they only romantic memories now?
Thinking of her seishi, a strange image caught her imagination. A picture of Tasuki grinning at her with his deep golden eyes flashed in her mind. With his lip curled up in one of his ferocious smirks one of his fangs protruded out and gleamed at her. She had often wondered what it would feel like to have his fang nibble and feast upon her. Involuntarily she reached up and caught her blushing ears.
Out of all her seishi he definitely was the sexiest. Even Taka's beauty couldn't compete to the wild and untamed demeanor Tasuki possessed. 'I wonder if he as wild in bed as he is when fighting?' she thought sheepishly. Flashes of him and her rolling around caught up in one another's fiery desire brought a wicked grin to her face.
'Stop thinking about such things!' her self conscience screamed at her. She shook her head wildly trying to knock the thought out of her mind. 'He's gone, left in the book with the others! He's just a memory now!'
She stopped tossing and sat still for a moment. "Just a memory," she repeated to herself. Then Taka's harsh words intruded her thoughts and ended her fantasies.
"Oh!" She cried and hung her head. This was becoming to much. Miaka convinced herself she was just being silly to look to deeply in to his words and tried to enjoy her bath.
Slowly she raised her body and arched her back against the tub, coaxing the water to caress her stomach. A small giggle flew from her lips as the water rolled across her. Not able to take the tickling sensation any longer she dunked her head under the water.
'Wow'. For a moment she didn't even move. Somehow, being surrounded by nothing made her feel alive and calm at the same time.
~*~
Trying to empty his mind of all worries Tasuki closed his eyes and allowed sleep to overtake him As he trailed off in to deep slumber he thought he felt a small tickle of warmth probe his lower stomach and then soon ran through his body. "Mmm," he moaned as the feeling intensified and his body started glowing with a warm red coating of shimmering mist.
~*~
She just allowed the sensation of being held in the liquid warmth of the bath for a moment. 'This feeling is almost like. . .' she thought but then trailed off. She couldn't even bear finishing her thought for if she did then she was sure she'd spend the rest of the night crying. She was no longer the Priestess of Suzuka and her life and heart now belonged in this world. 'Those days or nothing more than memories now.' She knew she should let go but somehow life in Konan wasn't so bad. She was surrounded by her dear friends and while the journey was dangerous, there was never a dull moment. Truth be told she actually enjoyed it, thoroughly.
Again she furrowed her brow. 'And its not like being here is so much fun right now.' With a inner sigh she arose from the cocoon the water held her in and stood up. Wrapping a small towel around her as she prepared herself. She awaited the cold air that blew through the room to attack her. She always hated the cold feeling she got after she arose from her bath. It was as if the cold denied her the loving warmth she so much enjoyed. She tightened up but nothing came. No cold. Nothing. She couldn't even feel the water droplets fall from her hair to slide down her body. 'What's going on?' Slowly opening her eyes she noticed she was encased in a soft red light that pulsating through her body. "Is this. . ." she muttered while tightening her fist against the nape of her neck, "Suzuka?"
The steady rhythm of the pulsing light warmed her. . . no, caught her on fire. Her eyes fluttered opened as the light retracted and dove within her again. After she caught her breath she felt the cool touch of the air nip the top of her breast and she sharply bit back a curse and she fumbled for her shirt to cover herself up with. When she found no such thing present she allowed herself a full onslaught of curses. "Dammit, where the hell did I put it?!" She grumbled as she stepped out of the tub, swaggering from her senses still adjusting from the light's warmth to the night's tender, cool kiss.
Her eyes trailed the entire length of the room in search of her over sized night shirt. Shivering from the cold she caught a glimpse of the dark blue fabric lying on the floor. Without a second thought she threw it over her head. Underneath her shirt lay a pair of white panties. She quickly pulled them up under her towel and them allowed the soaked fabric fall to the floor. With a sigh of relief she rested her back against the wall which was soak with condensation. The cold liquid that oozed from the wall bit her sharply and caused her to jump with a startled yelp. 'Calm down Miaka! Your starting to spaz out!'
Grabbing her hairbrush, Miaka sat down on the small stool in front of the bathroom's mirror. Slowly she started brushing her hair, enjoying the stroking sensation. A smile kissed the corners of her mouth and formed a small dimple in her cheek. As she continued to brush her long auburn hair her thoughts turned to a few minutes ago. Did she really feel what she thought she had or was it merely her imagination playing with her?
After she was finished brushing she gently lifted the back of her damp hair and tied it back in a simple pony tail. For the first time since she had gotten in to the tub she glanced up in the mirror, hoping to find the running massacre and other make up that clung to her damp cheek to be gone. She found that and, oh, so much more.
Her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if she would ever breath again. Staring back from behind her was the reflection of amber eyes and a fanged grin.
~*~
Yes! First chapter finally in its completion!! I decided there wasn't much hanging at the end so I decided to 'spice' things up just a little bit to keep the reader's interest. And just a little bit of warning. . . I don't like going by the rules so I'm not going to. -1_^
Oh! And I'd like to take a moment to sincerely thank Kitty-Lynne for all her help! *Laughs* Thanks! (I know your probably tired of me saying Thanks but I can't help it!) =^_^=
Oh! And Black Robed one, don't worry. Taka just seems like an asshole now, all will be explained later. ^_^- I may like the Tasuki + Miaka pairing but I wouldn't forget the love they shared together. But thanks for your suggestion and I'll work the whole story about Taka in soon.
Anyway, I guess I don't have too much to say except you're not going to hurt my feelings easily so let me know what you think and suggestion are always welcomed!
Anyway, leave a review for me and I'll try to post again real soon. ^_^-
LadySteph
^_^-
Hello! This is my first Tasuki and Miaka fic! *Smiles* And I'm really looking forward to joining this section of ff.net. ^_^
I went back and changed many things and even added some stuff to the story. I guess you could say some aspects of the story didn't seem original. I'm still a little unsure of myself in my writing so if something doesn't seem right then please let me know. Oh! And one more thing. Let's see some more Tasuki and Miaka fics! *Laughs giddily* Together we can destroy the common pairing of Tama and Miaka and enhance it to greater lengths!! *Laughs evilly* 1_^-
Disclaimers - I do not own Fushigi Yugi or any of its characters. I just take them *Grabs Tasuki plushie* and twist their lives *Grabs Miaka plushie* and bend them to my sick will! *Cuddles them possessively* Bwuahahaha!
1_^
Chapter 1
Tasuki held Miaka tight against him, her scent enveloping all his senses. She pressed herself tight against his body and he bit in a sharp breath to cool himself off. "Listen you little spitfire, if you continue to . . . 'attach' yourself against me, there might be consequences." She knew his words were a teasing warning but she couldn't help but look in to his deep amber eyes with a challenging expression hidden deep within her smile.
"What type of consequences?" she teased.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" With a sheepish look on her face she gazed downward and noticed his wanting.
"Oh!"
"Oh is right," he purred against her throat. She shivered as his purr vibrated through her flesh and deep within her throat, and heart.
~*~ A Week Before
Miaka stared hard at her reflection in the mirror standing opposite of her. Tilting her head slightly to the side she let out a long and exasperated sigh. Nothing staring back at her seemed to be right. In fact, it was all so ABSOLUTELY WRONG!
Her soft green eyes let out a shimmering jewel that caressed her cheek and softly dropped down to graze her soft throat. Miaka's bottom lip started quivering like a small child's would when denied. "No. No. No!" She cried. "This isn't right!!"
Yui's demented chuckle rang softly in her ears. "Miaka. . ."
"Don't you DARE come in here you baka!" Miaka screeched in agony. Again Yui's evil laugh rang out and tickled Miaka's last nerve. Not a single thing about her current situation seemed funny to poor Miaka.
Keiske and Tetsuya lounged on two small chairs halfway across the room from the battling divas. "Do you think this is going to take long?" Tetsuya asked his best friend with pleading eyes, or as pleading as his eyes could be behind a pair of dark glasses.
Keiske lowered his head and sighed miserably, "Doesn't it usually?"
Tetsuya joined him and hung his head with the same sigh. The sigh that men only let utter through their lips when they were with women. Not only women, but women shopping. Not only women shopping, but Miaka and Yui shopping!
"Ya know," Tetsuya cooed in Keiske's direction. "If ya had just let her get the one she wanted then none of this would've happened! I mean it IS her prom, not yours." The last few words were spat with playful hatred.
Keiske groaned and threw his hands up in defeat. "Dammit! I know that!"
"Miaka and Yui only have one week of school left anyway and then they'll be independent, educated adults." Tetsuya laughed.
"Come off it! Miaka. . . independent, educated, and an adult all at once! That might overload her delicate senses!" Keiske half laughed and half truly spoke as a proven fact. Tetsuya joined him in his soft laughter, not because he thought Miaka couldn't achieve womanhood, but because of Keiske's big brother instincts that seemed to cloud his judgement of her.
'She's accomplished so much and has become a beautiful woman with a pure heart. Both Miaka and Yui,' he thought. He was very proud of both of them. He gazed out of the corner of his eyes as his dear friend. 'I just hope you can come to terms with Miaka's growing up,' he sighed to himself.
"Listen, I know letting go is hard but it has to be done and the sooner you get it over with the sooner you can move on," Tetsuya spoke softly.
Keiske sighed. "How can I let go when I have to protect her -" He was cut off by Tetsuya's loud cough. "Okay, maybe I could start to let go," he started until he came to a thought that struck him hard. "But then who is going to protect her?!" Dramatically he held his heart and spilled a few tears on the ground. "I must look after Miaka and provide her with all my brotherly heart from the evils that shroud our misguided world!"
Tetsuya couldn't help but laugh. "I think Taka would have a little problem with your position," he reminded Keiske.
Suddenly a cloud of seriousness enclosed around Keiske. "I guess I haven't told you."
Tetsuya gazed over at his friend with dreaded anticipation. "Please don't tell me what I think you're going to tell me."
With a heart felt sigh of utter sadness for Miaka spilling through his tight lips he uttered the bad news to Tetsuya. "Now don't tell Miaka but, I don't think Taka has any intention to take Miaka to her last dance."
Tetsuya's heart fell for his ' little sister'. "Please tell me I heard you wrong." But all Keiske did was nod his head to confirm his words. "Miaka is going to be heart broken. How do you know Taka isn't going to take her?"
"I guess it's just a feeling and I don't really have anything to back it up but -" Before he could finish he was once again cut off.
"I have noticed Taka's change in attitude toward her. I just wonder what happened inside that head of his." While stirring his thoughts he started to put pieces together. "Ah ha!"
Keiske looked up at his friend with his brows scrunched together. "And what are you Ah-ha-ing about?"
"That's why you've become a real stick up the ass big brother lately!" Keiske's mouth opened wide with shock. "What I mean is, that's why you've assumed your role as Miaka's protector. Are you really scared Taka isn't going to protect Miaka?"
Keiske nodded while raising his eyes to look up at the nothingness that lay upon the ceiling. "I know he'll protect her in the physical sense but as far as her heart goes. . . I'm unsure and I guess it scares me." How could Miaka ever hope to recover from the shock of knowing Taka wasn't going to be her date to her last dance. The one event he and her friends couldn't get her to shut up about! To her, this symbolized her last fling as a carefree adolescent. She had already given up her body to adult hood but to Miaka. . . she'd now be giving up her careless fantasies and child like dreams.
"But then why are you still buying her prom dress?" Tetsuya inquired.
"I guess I couldn't break her spirit and I also guess I'm just holding on to my faith in Taka." With nothing but silence between them Keiske and Tetsuya watched in amusement as Yui tried to coax Miaka out of her dressing room.
"Come on out and show the world what Miaka Yuuki has to offer!" Yui laughed, tugging at the curtain that protected the small dressing room. Miaka replied to her assault of her privacy by screaming and yanking the curtain back down. Frustrated by her best friend's uncooperative attitude Yui quickly released the curtain. "Come on Miaka! It can't be THAT bad!"
'Oh but it is, Yui! I can't believe my brother even thought of putting me such hell! Why I can't even believe he had the nerve to ask me to - AH!' The sudden change in pressure in their little tug-of-war game caused Miaka to fall backwards and land on her backside. "YUI!"
"So ya comin' out or am I going to have to go in after ya?" Yui sighed impatiently.
Out from the curtain popped Miaka's embarrassed and intensely reddened face. "Yui, do you promise not to make fun of me?!"
Yui let out a small chuckle, "Of course not!"
Taking extreme caution that no one else but Yui would see Miaka slowly opened the curtain and displayed her full image.
Yui's face was bulged with hidden laughter. "That. . . suits. . . you. . ." She gasped, careful not to explode with her deafening laughter.
Miaka's eyes again started to water. "Yui . . . "
"Shh! Don't say anything. Give it a twirl! Show off that sexy figure!"
Miaka hesitantly obliged her friend's wish and did a small and unenthusiastic twirl about. This small gesture was all Yu-chan could take. With an outburst loud enough to make a fire engine ashamed Yui fell to the floor and along with her came the curtain that hid Miaka's last shred of dignity.
Miaka let out a death-defying scream as she was exposed. Tetsuya raised his head and let his mouth drop open with extreme shock. "Ya know, this isn't really helping her grow up. You should have let her get the one SHE wanted."
Keiske sighed as he stared at his beloved sister. "I know that but. . ."
Like a fashion show host he stood and pointed at his sister. "Doesn't it suit her and her innocent personality?!" With extreme passion he continued on as many onlookers stared. "Look at the high top, to cover any cleavage, and the long bottom, to prevent panty viewing access, and how it sags and hides all her curves and creases! It's the perfect dress!!"
Miaka's right eye began twitching with irritation. "Keiske . . . " Her brother sheepishly gazed down. "Not only is this dress an embarrassment to the fashion world but. . . " With huge tears welling up in her eyes she exploded, "IT HAS LITTLE DUCKS AND RUFFLES ON IT!!"
Keiske gulped and stared at the hideous piece of clothing. She WAS right. Knowing he was defeated he hung his head and handed her his credit card. "Go get the one you wanted, it's to painful a procedure to me to execute."
Miaka squealed with delight and gave her brother a hug and then, just a quickly, skipped off with her partner in crime to the cashier's desk. Tetsuya laughed as he handed his best friend a shoulder to cry on. "She's growing up. You have to start letting her go, even if she does get hurt from time to time."
At first Keiske started to believe his best friend but then an angry thought crushed his heart. "And just when the hell did I give her the permission to grow up?!" Tetsuya just continued to laugh as he drug his dismayed partner out of the store leaving behind many astonished customers.
~*~
Tasuki couldn't help but laugh as the warm sake touched his lips and slithered down his throat. He knew he shouldn't be doing this to himself again but he really didn't feel as though he had much more of a choice. With so much clouding his thoughts he couldn't think of any other way to handle his feelings. If Chichiri knew that he was in the bar, trying to escape his problems, he'd be driven in to a long lecture about self control and determination and other types of spiritual shit that he didn't want to hear right now.
"Where the hell is that damned monk anyway?" he sighed as he laid his head on the bar. He let out a sigh as he realized tonight HIS partner in crime was busy meditating on the past day's events. Not that anything special happened but just to clear his mind in preparation for the next few days and what they held in store. He couldn't help but reveal a fanged smile as he faintly remembered Chichiri's advise to do some meditating of his own. 'Well, this is as close to meditating as I'm going to get!' he laughed to himself.
"Hello stranger," a soothing voice teased, "you're looking a little lonely. You need some company tonight?" Tasuki didn't even bother looking up or responding as he took another sip of the sake that stained his glass and his lips. He took a minute to round the top of the glass with his fingertips, trying to look busy.
"Excuse me," she cooed again and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Do you need anything, want anything?"
Tasuki hesitantly rolled his eyes up at her. His eyes held a cold depth that sent a small shiver down her back but she wouldn't go away. The woman looked to be in her late twenties but the added wrinkles and bags under her eyes hid her younger image. "Do I look like I need anything?" he muttered in a cold tone that seemed to freeze his beloved tessen strapped to his back. At first she was quite taken back but smiled as she realized the competition would be great to coax him to her bed.
"Well, many men hide their true desires. Is there a hidden desire you posses?" With a suggestive chuckle she lowered her head to blow lightly in his ear and she talked. He growled as she took one of his earrings in to her mouth and tugged on it. He let his deep and dangerous purr escaped his lips for two reasons. 1. - It had been so long since he'd been tamed. - and - 2. He was damn sure he wasn't to be tamed by some arrogant slut.
"Yes," was all he said.
"What is it you desire?" she teased now moving her hand from his shoulder to caress the soft fabric of his tunic with a smile of triumph.
Swiftly he grabbed her hand and held it tightly. "What I desire is. . . " Seductively the women smiled at him as she started to nuzzle his neck with her nose. ". . . nothing that you can give me. Now leave me t' hell alone." With that he threw her defiled hands away from him.
With complete shock she jumped up and stared hard at him. He met her gaze with a powerful glare. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do to fulfill you inner most desires?" She asked again, almost pleading with him.
"And what would you know about my inner most desires?!" He shouted as he stood and kicked the toe of his boots against the floor, adjusting them to fit around his feet comfortably.
Sadly enough, he knew this was the woman's job and even though he should show some compassion for her lowly life style he couldn't find himself to feel pity for her; however, he did feel a tinged of guilt as he met her desperate eyes. Maybe a little kindness would allow her the courage to leave the run down bar. 'Don't get optimistic on me now ya dumbass,' he warned himself with a chuckle.
"Please sir!" the woman begged throwing his thoughts off course. "There must be something I could do to make you happy, to bring you pleasure." Her eyes streamed with tears as she started to unlace the top that barely covered her large and scarred breast.
Anger built within him. 'Does this bitch understand I don't want anything her damned, overused body has to offer?' "Fine, hold out your damned hands and close your damned eyes!" With a whimper she obliged his rough command and opened out her hands to him. His plan was to just simply walk out and leave her in her current position but for some reason he couldn't find it inside himself to accomplish his goal. Acting with complete disgust he threw a few coins in to her hands.
She opened her eyes and stared at the coins shimmering lightly against her flesh. "Oh!" she cried and looked up at him with unsure gratitude. "So you accept my offer?"
While making sure his tessen was securely tucked between his shoulders his gaze never lost their intensity. "Not a chance in hell." And with that he escaped in to the night.
~*~
Miaka couldn't help but bite her bottom lip. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. With ever last inch of courage she found her voice. "But Taka," she whined. She could feel her heart break as his voice covered hers with his reassurance.
"Miaka, I'm sorry but this could really be big," Taka's voice cooed as it flowed from the receiver to Miaka's heart.
"Bigger than my senior prom?" she muttered.
"Perhaps."
Miaka's only reaction to his one sentenced execution was to blink away her tears. "Look, Miaka, I'm really sorry and I tried to reschedule but if they accept me in to their program- " From that point on Miaka closed herself to his words. She couldn't do anything else. 'How can I protest when he's just trying to better our future, I mean, how selfish would it be for me to hold him back from his dreams.'
After she had returned home from buying her dress she had run a nice hot bath and was about to enjoy the moment when the phone had rang. Like a possessed demon she clawed and scratched her way to the phone, several times tripping over her own feet.
Holding her robe close to her body and still trying to choke back her emotion she stifled a laugh and cautiously choice her words of acceptance. "Oh, I'm sorry Taka. I guess I was just a little shock but I'm okay now!" She waited for him to coax her and tell her he appreciated her sacrifice for his benefit but those words never came. In fact, no words came.
"Taka?" Miaka asked. The phone stood still and silent in her hands until a small click caught her attention.
"Miaka? You there?"
Miaka's heart soared at the sound of his happy voice. "What happened Taka? I was just telling you how happy I am for you and when you didn't answer I was scared that - "
Soon she was cut off by his serious tone. "Oh, I had another call. Anyway, listen Miaka, there's something I want to tell you-"
However, Miaka wasn't even sure if she wanted to listen at all. Not only had he cut her off but he didn't even bother apologizing! Miaka swallowed her anger and listened to him, trying to calm herself down.
~*~
The moon's pale gaze met him with open arms as he swiftly emerged in to the darkness. The changed of scenery was quite pleasant to his overindulged senses and even seemed to sober up his mind a bit. He moaned as the cool night breeze entangled its fingers in his wild hair. Promptly he plopped himself down on a soft patch of grass and stretched out. Tonight he would sleep well with the devil's liquid swimming in his system.
At least, he would have slept well with the sake swimming in his system until a certain little chibi monk approached him and bonged him on the head with his staff.
"Ahh! Dammit!" Tasuki cried as he held his head. "Who's there?!" Without even waiting for a reply, for he knew who is was, Tasuki glared down at his friend. "Why t'hell did you do that?!"
Chichiri gazed up at him, still in chibi form, and managed to smile even wider than it seemed possible. "I saw what you did, you know?"
Tasuki's face reddened a bit as he crossed his legs and protested to any grace coming his way. The last thing he really wanted was praise for any actions he had made. So just as cunningly as a sly fox he made up a lie. "I just didn't want her dirty hands grouping me, 's all! There's nothing else to it." He wanted to end the conversation there but the silence was covered with Chichiri's laugh. Feeling his anger boil up he spat, "Plus she wasn't really that attractive and she might have been poisonous or something. And even if she wasn't then I'd . . . uhm . . . Listen, it was nothing and I don't need you telling me I did a good job cause I don't deserve it! I intended on leaving her on the dirty floor even with tears in her fucking eyes! Does that sound like a noble thing to do?"
After taking the jumbled up speech in Chichiri bonged him on the head once again. "But you didn't, you know?" Chichiri wasn't about to be fooled by his fanged friend. Praise the Gods Tasuki did a bad job at lying. However, it really upset him when his friend bashed himself for doing something right for a change.
"Don't be afraid to admit you did something just and right. You should never be ashamed of those great accomplishments, you know?" Chichiri regained his normal size and sat next to his friend. He stared at Tasuki from behind the comfort of his mask. "How do you think the others are doing?" As soon as the words escaped his mouth he regretted them. He knew the statement would rile up many unpleasant memories but for some odd reason Chichiri felt as if he was supposed to bring the subject up and he always followed his gut instincts.
Sadly Chichiri looked down at the soft grass underneath his feet. The subject even brought him anguish. Although he knew all was okay, he couldn't help but miss Miaka and Taka. With the image of Miaka burned in his mind he looked up at Tasuki. He was plucking little pieces of the soft carpet up and ripping them in half. Only a couple of months has passed since Miaka has left but to poor Tasuki it seems like she left yesterday and has been gone forever.
Tasuki's heart jumped. He knew what Chichiri meant when he said 'others'. He didn't mean the other celestial warriors, he meant Miaka and . . . Taka. Tasuki let out a laugh and swatted his hand in the air. "Ah, you know that little baka! She's probably causing havoc and mayhem everywhere she goes!"
"Not to mention eating everything in her path, you know?" Chichiri laughed.
The nervous laughter lingering from Tasuki's mouth gave the gentle night a slight vibration of tension. Chichiri let go a small sigh as he studied Tasuki's clouded eyes.
"You know, some things are best left in the past, especially when already forgiven," Chichiri stated nonchalantly. Tasuki flashed him one of his dangerous looks, telling his friend to back away from the subject.
With that being said the monk headed toward a nearby tree and leaned against its soft bark. "Try to get some sleep, I have a feeling something interesting is going to be happening soon."
Tasuki flashed his friend a confident grin but as he turned on his side his smile died instantly. Gazing over the landscape he couldn't help but feel strangely tired. The curves of the soft hills matched the tempo the rolling mountains set in the background. The moon shining on the few trees that covered the field made them seem like jewels shining brighter than even the stars themselves. As hard as he tried to let the scenery lull him to sleep his body wouldn't listen. He let out a frustrated growl and he tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position to ease his body and mind.
~*~
Miaka could feel her heart race and face reddened. Here came the praises from her love. This was why she endured her small sacrifices, to hear Taka's happy voice over the phone and tell her how much she meant to him and how much he loved her.
"- I just wanted to let you know . . .
-^_^-
. . . that I'll be leaving tomorrow . . .
^_^'
. . . to see about a new class that teaches. . .
^^;
Miaka waited and half heartily listened until his voice lowered in to a husky whisper. Miaka awaited her love's words.
"- but I just wanted to say that I'll be back soon and I knew you'd understand."
X_x'
Miaka's forehead was covered with a single sweatdrop that lowered to the side of her face.
BEEP
"Opps, sorry Miaka that must be another call for me. I'll call you back later!"
Before he could hang up she caught his attention by making a small whining noise. "But, Taka, aren't you forgetting someth-"
"Miaka, this can wait for later. I need to answer this call."
Now Miaka would usually just let the conversation go at that and just give in to her love's desires but for some odd reason she didn't feel like following the same routine. "Wait, Taka."
"Miaka, this could be a really important call!" Miaka jumped back, a little startled by the frustration in his voice. There was a moment of silence before she answered him.
"But Taka, I just wanted to say that - "
click
Twice. Twice he had done that in just one phone call! Miaka's hands clenched in to little tight balls of fury. He just clicked over to the other call! He didn't even listen! Miaka had half the mind to slam the phone down when she heard the phone click back over.
"Dammit. I missed the call."
Hearing the irritation in his voice she looked down, ashamed of her actions. "Sorry." He muttered something not meant for her to here and then demanded what was so damn important that he had to miss his call. Then he added something that shocked and hurt her more than him leaving her on the line. -And it better be worth it.-
Not really scared but to tired to fight she just replied, "I guess I just wanted to say 'I love you.'"
"That's all?!"
"What do you mean, 'that's all'?!"
"I mean, I know you love me and I love you and. . . damn . . . that could have been that company calling about the new program!"
"Oh, that's right, you're leaving tomorrow," she sighed.
"You mean you forgot already?!"
Miaka's hot blood reacted to his cold attitude. "Hmph. As if you can talk about 'forgetting' things that are important!"
There was a LONG silence and Miaka felt her competitive spirit die. 'Taka, say something, please! Don't be mad at me!' She waited until she caught the smallest noise fuming.
"You want to talk about important?! Well, what's more important to you, achieving only the best to assure a secure future or a stupid midnight fling?!"
"Midnight fling?" she muttered softly. Was that all it was to him? Was that all she was to him?
"Well, what else was going to happen? Silly things like that are just romantic memories, what I'm talking about is the future."
"The future," she repeated.
"Look I'm going to try to figure out whom the hell just tried to call me okay?"
"Okay."
"Love ya' Miaka."
"You too, Tama." Miaka shuttered as she placed the phone down in its cradle. She didn't even bother to correct her mistake. Before she even put the phone down she could hear him yelling about how he wasn't Tama, he was Taka. That thought captivated her and held her in place for a minute. That's right; he is Taka and not Tama.
Taka has different somehow. He wasn't usually this cold to her. 'He's just stressed out and I shouldn't have pushed him so hard,' she thought.
With all being said and done she headed toward the bathroom to wash up and go to bed. No longer was she excited and hyper and . . . happy, but worn out and tired. As she passed her room she glanced at the dark black dress with streaks of fiery red blazing through it and the tiniest silver sparkles. Her hands ran across its soft length as dreams of her last dance faded away.
~*~
With a long sigh Tasuki rolled over on his back to meet that moon's gaze. The grass struggled to rest under his weight and the ground gave a little as he shifted positions. Though many thoughts crossed his mind only one truly stood out. A faint smile touched his fanged disposition as he pondered over what Miaka was doing.
~*~
Leaving the dress and her dreams behind her feet lightly grazed against the cool bathroom floor. With a hint of enthusiasm she undressed and stepped in to the warm pool of water. Before relaxing in the bath she turned to gaze upon her reflection. Clumps of massacre clung underneath her eyes. 'I guess I was crying after all.' Slowly she sat down, allowing her body to adjust to the difference in temperature. After she was cozy she just laid there, soaking in the delicious lapping of the water around her shoulders.
'I guess I was a little hard on Taka. He must really be hurt after I called him by the wrong name, AGAIN!' She sighed. The situation was just to much for Miaka to take in. She watched as her auburn hair swirled around her body. Disturbing the long tresses were small ripples. Closing her eyes she realized she was still crying. She wanted to be furious at Taka for telling her the one thing she dreamed about for a whole year was nothing but a midnight fling and afterward would be nothing more than pathetic memories but somehow couldn't find herself to be that angry.
While lowering her body in to the water and blowing a few bubble in to the water she grunted. Oh, how much she wanted those precious memories! When all is said and done the only thing left is memories. 'How could he neglect such wonderful treasures?!'
Why did this life have to be so damned confusing?! Even her life as the priestess of Suzuka seemed less confusing than now! A few moments passed and she repeated her bubble blowing with irritation. All that was left of her adventures through the book were her memories. . . and Taka. She sighed. Did that mean he saw their life together in the book as nothing more than a 'romantic memory'?
The tears that stung her eyes started dropping more rapidly, causing the pool of water around her to shiver. All of her warriors were in the book. Were they only romantic memories now?
Thinking of her seishi, a strange image caught her imagination. A picture of Tasuki grinning at her with his deep golden eyes flashed in her mind. With his lip curled up in one of his ferocious smirks one of his fangs protruded out and gleamed at her. She had often wondered what it would feel like to have his fang nibble and feast upon her. Involuntarily she reached up and caught her blushing ears.
Out of all her seishi he definitely was the sexiest. Even Taka's beauty couldn't compete to the wild and untamed demeanor Tasuki possessed. 'I wonder if he as wild in bed as he is when fighting?' she thought sheepishly. Flashes of him and her rolling around caught up in one another's fiery desire brought a wicked grin to her face.
'Stop thinking about such things!' her self conscience screamed at her. She shook her head wildly trying to knock the thought out of her mind. 'He's gone, left in the book with the others! He's just a memory now!'
She stopped tossing and sat still for a moment. "Just a memory," she repeated to herself. Then Taka's harsh words intruded her thoughts and ended her fantasies.
"Oh!" She cried and hung her head. This was becoming to much. Miaka convinced herself she was just being silly to look to deeply in to his words and tried to enjoy her bath.
Slowly she raised her body and arched her back against the tub, coaxing the water to caress her stomach. A small giggle flew from her lips as the water rolled across her. Not able to take the tickling sensation any longer she dunked her head under the water.
'Wow'. For a moment she didn't even move. Somehow, being surrounded by nothing made her feel alive and calm at the same time.
~*~
Trying to empty his mind of all worries Tasuki closed his eyes and allowed sleep to overtake him As he trailed off in to deep slumber he thought he felt a small tickle of warmth probe his lower stomach and then soon ran through his body. "Mmm," he moaned as the feeling intensified and his body started glowing with a warm red coating of shimmering mist.
~*~
She just allowed the sensation of being held in the liquid warmth of the bath for a moment. 'This feeling is almost like. . .' she thought but then trailed off. She couldn't even bear finishing her thought for if she did then she was sure she'd spend the rest of the night crying. She was no longer the Priestess of Suzuka and her life and heart now belonged in this world. 'Those days or nothing more than memories now.' She knew she should let go but somehow life in Konan wasn't so bad. She was surrounded by her dear friends and while the journey was dangerous, there was never a dull moment. Truth be told she actually enjoyed it, thoroughly.
Again she furrowed her brow. 'And its not like being here is so much fun right now.' With a inner sigh she arose from the cocoon the water held her in and stood up. Wrapping a small towel around her as she prepared herself. She awaited the cold air that blew through the room to attack her. She always hated the cold feeling she got after she arose from her bath. It was as if the cold denied her the loving warmth she so much enjoyed. She tightened up but nothing came. No cold. Nothing. She couldn't even feel the water droplets fall from her hair to slide down her body. 'What's going on?' Slowly opening her eyes she noticed she was encased in a soft red light that pulsating through her body. "Is this. . ." she muttered while tightening her fist against the nape of her neck, "Suzuka?"
The steady rhythm of the pulsing light warmed her. . . no, caught her on fire. Her eyes fluttered opened as the light retracted and dove within her again. After she caught her breath she felt the cool touch of the air nip the top of her breast and she sharply bit back a curse and she fumbled for her shirt to cover herself up with. When she found no such thing present she allowed herself a full onslaught of curses. "Dammit, where the hell did I put it?!" She grumbled as she stepped out of the tub, swaggering from her senses still adjusting from the light's warmth to the night's tender, cool kiss.
Her eyes trailed the entire length of the room in search of her over sized night shirt. Shivering from the cold she caught a glimpse of the dark blue fabric lying on the floor. Without a second thought she threw it over her head. Underneath her shirt lay a pair of white panties. She quickly pulled them up under her towel and them allowed the soaked fabric fall to the floor. With a sigh of relief she rested her back against the wall which was soak with condensation. The cold liquid that oozed from the wall bit her sharply and caused her to jump with a startled yelp. 'Calm down Miaka! Your starting to spaz out!'
Grabbing her hairbrush, Miaka sat down on the small stool in front of the bathroom's mirror. Slowly she started brushing her hair, enjoying the stroking sensation. A smile kissed the corners of her mouth and formed a small dimple in her cheek. As she continued to brush her long auburn hair her thoughts turned to a few minutes ago. Did she really feel what she thought she had or was it merely her imagination playing with her?
After she was finished brushing she gently lifted the back of her damp hair and tied it back in a simple pony tail. For the first time since she had gotten in to the tub she glanced up in the mirror, hoping to find the running massacre and other make up that clung to her damp cheek to be gone. She found that and, oh, so much more.
Her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if she would ever breath again. Staring back from behind her was the reflection of amber eyes and a fanged grin.
~*~
Yes! First chapter finally in its completion!! I decided there wasn't much hanging at the end so I decided to 'spice' things up just a little bit to keep the reader's interest. And just a little bit of warning. . . I don't like going by the rules so I'm not going to. -1_^
Oh! And I'd like to take a moment to sincerely thank Kitty-Lynne for all her help! *Laughs* Thanks! (I know your probably tired of me saying Thanks but I can't help it!) =^_^=
Oh! And Black Robed one, don't worry. Taka just seems like an asshole now, all will be explained later. ^_^- I may like the Tasuki + Miaka pairing but I wouldn't forget the love they shared together. But thanks for your suggestion and I'll work the whole story about Taka in soon.
Anyway, I guess I don't have too much to say except you're not going to hurt my feelings easily so let me know what you think and suggestion are always welcomed!
Anyway, leave a review for me and I'll try to post again real soon. ^_^-
LadySteph