This is one of my newest stories! made by me (Seira Ayuda)! I know I should be working on my other two (wince), but I've got writers block for the moment, so I decided to write another fic...so...this is just something I randomly thought would make a cute story...Basically, Tasuki runs into this kid who's trying to find her mother. soon, Chichiri and he have to both help the child. and take care of her...ect ect...it's gong to be very cute...so...read it and tell me whatcha think...R&R--Arigatou! .

After it all

It was a particularly innocent day, and two travelers were calmly walking down the path. And soon enough the peaceful quiet of the day was broken.

" Oi! Chiri! When are we gonna get ta the next town?!"

" Tasuki-kun no da! We barely just set out! How can you be tired already no da?!"

" Well, if you really wanna know-" he held out his hand to count. " I didn't get any breakfast, I didn't get any sleep last night-because of somebody!!"

" Tasuki…I told you…I need to get up early for-"

" Yeah, yeah I know- and I dun need ta be reminded-I still have a headache! And I don't need ta be lectured by a monk!"

Chichiri snorted, raising his chin.

" What's wrong with monks no da?!"

Tasuki gave his lighter-haired friend a stupid look.

" Your chants, and your "daily pray" and-"

" Okay, okay no da!" he turned to his paranoid friend. " For one, I don't pray because I'm a monk…you should try it sometime-maybe pray for some patients and better manners…"

" Nani?! What was that?! Say that again!!" he drew his Tessen from it's trap on his back.

" I think you heard me fine Tasuki no da…"

" Baka yarou!"

Chichiri crossed his arms, and stuck out his tongue defiantly.

" Then why do you follow me around no da?"

Tasuki paused. Chichiri waited, grinning under his mask. Tasuki finally sighed, and patted his friend's shoulder.

" I dunno! Guess I've gotten fond of you Chiri!"

The blue-haired man smiled, rubbing Tasuki's hair fondly.

" Hai, I guess so…"

" Stop pettin' my head like a dog would ya?!" the bandit gave Chichiri an annoyed look. Chichiri smirked.

" Well, you follow me around like a dog, why can't I pet you like one-"

" CHIRI!!"

Chichiri laughed, and ran off down the path, with Tasuki in close pursuit.

::::::

The sun was now setting, and all but a small campfire was covered with shadow. Then, from that campfire-a long belch, and everything went dead quite…

" TASUKI YOU PIG NO DA!!!"

Tasuki laughed, hard. Chichiri held his nose, scooting away from his friend. And since his usually smiling mask wasn't on, he wore a frown. He swiped the air, try to get the smell of fish away. Tasuki was on the ground, laughing up a storm. Chichiri didn't really find it at all funny, and gave the bandit a nasty look. Tasuki saw it, and just started laughing even more. Chichiri stood and went out to a hill that over-looked the city.

" You probably woke all of Konan with that disgusting demonstration!"

Tasuki could be heard by the fire, getting a cramp. And hearing his friends' complaint, was sent into another fit.

" It was not funny!"

" Sor-sorry Chiri! I just couldn't re-resist!"

Chichiri soon walked back to the fire, after getting some "fresh air", and sat down.

" You worry me Tasuki…"

Tasuki managed to sit, holding his side.

" But you should have seen your face! It was like-WA!" he demonstrated this by widening his eyes and raising his hands. Chichiri had to smile, shaking his head as he watched his friend keel over in yet another fit of laughter at his bad imitation.

" Like- "WA"- huh?"

Tasuki nodded, and Chichiri kicked him playfully. "Baka…"

Tasuki started to make a dramatic scene, clutching his side as if hurt. Chichiri got a drink for the hysterical bandit. " Drink before you choke…"

Tasuki sat, and took the water. He drank, then lowered the canteen.

" Thanks…"

" Are you better now?"

" Yeah, yeah…"

" Please don't do that ever again no da…"

" Just think of it as a way of getting you back at you, for making me eat fish again."

" I'll remember that no da…"he smiled. "We should get some sleep Tasuki."

" I agree, all that laughing has got me bushed."

" I bet…"

Chichiri yawned, getting and putting out the fire with a single spell. Tasuki reached over and chucked his pillow at the monk. Chichiri froze, and slowly turned.

" Tasuki-kun…"

" Yyyeesssss?"

Chichiri shut him up, throwing the pillow back at Tasuki, who 'oof!'ed and fell back.

" Night Tasuki…"

" Night monk-ey." he chuckled, dodging an energy blast from the older seishi.

Not to long after, being content at chasing the bandit up a tree for throwing another pillow at him, Chichiri proceeded to go to sleep.

The next morning, the dawn found Tasuki and Chichiri curled up in their blankets. Tasuki was all spread out across the ground, his mouth open widely. While Chichiri was curled up on his side with his kesa covering him. The sun rose, and hit Tasuki square in the face. He opened his eyes, just in time for the rays to strike his pupils. As they considerably shrank, his eyes widened, twitching.

" Ow…ow…OW!!!" he sprang up, rubbing his eyes. He stumbled around blindly, and…stepped right on the sleeping Chichiri's stomach. The startled and rudely awakened monk screamed in surprise, and threw Tasuki off of him. Tasuki wailed and fell back on the ground. Chichiri sat, looking disturbed. He groaned, his breath being knocked out of him.

" Tasuki….why'd you step on me…?"

" The sun…blinded me…"

Chichiri sighed, rubbing his face.

" Well, lets get something to eat…" he stood, going to Tasuki, and helping him up, cheering up. "You okay?"

" Yeah…" he brushed himself off. "But…why'd ya hafta throw me?"

"….reflex…"

Tasuki frowned, and muttered under his breath.

" Yeah right…"

So they started off, headed towards the next town.

In the next town, just outside Konan, Tasuki and Chichiri decided to buy some more supplies. Chichiri told Tasuki a few items, and the bandit went off, but was soon distracted. As he was looking through the stands for food, a small child walked up to him and pulled on his pant leg. Tasuki turned, looking down to the girl. She couldn't have been more than five years old. She had light brown hair, and big bright amber eyes. Tasuki looked around, not really knowing what to do about the situation.

" Uh…hey kid…whatcha want…"

The child looked a bit surprised, and stepped back a bit afraid. Tasuki winced, knowing he'd said the wrong thing. He knelt, coming eyelevel with the small girl. "I-uh…I'm sorry…don't be afraid…" the girl nodded a bit, and looked straight into Tasuki's eyes. It was a while before Tasuki thought of something to say, for the girl started to look very nervous. "Do ya need help? Where's yer mom huh?"

The small girl started to fidget, and she walked a bit closer to whisper in Tasuki's ear.

" I don't know…I think I'm lost…can you help me find her?"

Tasuki sighed, feeling sorry for the child. He bit his lip, thinking, before looking to the girl.

" Yeah…I'll help ya find her…" his reply made the girl smile, and Tasuki stood. " Well, I guess we should start…" then he thought of his errand. He looked to the stand he was at. Luckily it was a food stand, and Tasuki grabbed a few things before he began searching for the young girl's mother.

" Okay! Lets go…" it was then he really got a good look at her. She was pretty small, and her clothes looked old and torn. Her face was dirty, and her hair looked tangled. And she was barefoot, which struck Tasuki odd. Hadn't the mother even thought of buying the poor girl some shoes? Even slippers? Tasuki sighed. He didn't even know the girl's name. "Do you have a name?"

The little child looked up at Tasuki and nodded shyly.

" …..Saki." Tasuki smiled, kneeling again.

" Well Saki…I'm Tasuki…now…lets find yer mom…"

Saki's face beamed and she nodded. Tasuki stood, and was a bit surprised when Saki took his hand. He smiled a bit, hoping this wouldn't take too long.

Unfortunately, it did take a long time, and there was no sign of Saki's mother…Tasuki was beginning to get impatient. He was suppose to meet Chichiri outside the town soon. Saki was getting upset too, and clung to Tasuki's hand. Tasuki closed his eyes, muttering to himself.

" This is just great…now what…I'm going to be late…where's that mother…"

Just then Saki's stomach growled, and Tasuki was jerked out of his thoughts, to look at her. "Hm?" Saki shifted a bit, and gave Tasuki a pleading look. Now that Tasuki thought about it…she didn't look like she had eaten in a while. Tasuki looked around, then walked to the side of the road, where he took out some bread that he'd bought. He broke a large piece off and offered it to Saki. She just looked at it, then at Tasuki, as if unsure.

" Go ahead…ya must be hungry…" Saki looked back at the bread, then reached out slowly and took the bread. She started eating it, smiling shyly at Tasuki again. Tasuki told her to stay, as he climbed a nearby tree, to get a better look. When he didn't find anything, he climbed back down, to find that Saki had finished the bread already. He blinked.

" That was fast…well…I don't see any trace of anyone looking for a lost kid."

Saki looked sad, and looked down at the ground. Tasuki walked over to her.

" Listen…yer gonna to have ta come with me…"

" What…what about my mommy?" tears filled the young girls eyes.

Tasuki sighed, not knowing what to say to comfort her.

" Well…it's starting to get late…we can try again tomorrow…and my friend can help too."

Saki said nothing, and Tasuki ran a hand through his bright fiery hair. Taking care of this girl wasn't exactly he had prepared for. And what was he suppose to tell Chichiri? Tasuki didn't really know how to work with kids. They never really seemed to like him much. He sighed. " Well come on…I'm meeting Chiri soon you can stay with us for a while."

Saki nodded, and followed Tasuki out of town.

At the top of a hill, Chichiri waited patiently, as Tasuki made his way up. He smiled, but when another figure appeared behind him, he wondered. As Tasuki came closer, Chichiri could see it was a child. He raised his eyebrows. What was Tasuki, of all people, doing with a child? He was dumbfounded by this, and when Tasuki got to him, he asked.

" Tasuki…who's your little friend no da?"

" Long story…tell you later…lets get a room somewhere…"

Chichiri nodded, watching the girl hiding behind Tasuki's legs. She peeked out at the monk briefly. Chichiri nodded.

" Okay…I got us some rooms…"

In their room, Chichiri pulled Tasuki out in the hall.

" So…who is she?"

" She lost her mother…I was helping her look fer her…"

" Then I guess you didn't?"

" No…we looked for most of the day, asking everyone…"

Chichiri sighed, looking in at Saki, who was sitting on the bed, looking out the window.

" What are you planning to do about it?"

" I really don't know…I thought I'd find her mom and that'd be that."

" We surely can't leave her no da…we should find her parents as soon as possible."

Tasuki nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.

" Yeah…"

" I wonder if she's from this town."

Tasuki looked to his friend, his eyebrows raising.

" Hm? Whatcha mean?"

" Look at her…no one in this town dresses like that…and you say no one recognized her…she could have come from another village…"

" You thought so too huh? Yeah…I noticed…she looks like she hasn't eaten, or had a bath in a few days…"

" We could take care of her for a while we find her parents…it would be the best thing to do no da…"

" But how? We only have two beds…"

" She could sleep with you cant she no da?"

" What?! I don't think she'd be too thrilled about that…plus…kids don't exactly take to me…"

" She seems fine with you Tasuki no da, and we can't have her on the floor…"

Tasuki sighed, growling a bit.

" Fine…I don't think she'll like it though…"

The two walked back inside, and Tasuki went over to Saki, who turned as they came in. she got off the bed and looked up to Tasuki.

" Ready to get some sleep?"

Saki nodded, and pulled on her ragged dress. "Well, you might have to bunk with me…"

Saki looked up to him.

" That's…ok Mr. Tasuki…"

Tasuki smirked a bit at the authority.

" Ya don't hafta call me Mr…just call me Tasuki…"

Chichiri, pulling back the covers of his bed, smiled.

" What's her name Tasuki?"

" Oh! It's Saki…and-er-Saki, that's my friend Chichiri. Don't worry he's harmless, and don't let him scare ya…" A pillow soon connected with the back of Tasuki's head, and Tasuki turned, and threw it back. "Baka…"

Saki laughed a bit, and Tasuki patted the bed after he sat. "Well…come on…lets get you changed…"

Saki jumped up next to Tasuki, and he took off the outer part of the dress. Now Saki was in a white under shirt. Tasuki put that to the side, making a mental note to himself to get her something better to wear. Saki then crawled to one edge of the bed, and got under the covers. Tasuki soon followed, taking off his shirt, and getting in on the other side. He looked to the other bed, as he went to blow out the candle.

" Night Chiri."

" Night Tasuki…" and blew out the candle.

--Well, that's the first chap...and I need a bit of help from you reviewers...what should I have happen next...I need some ideas quick, or I can't finish the next chapter...I' be very happy...and you would be happy cause you get a second chapter! so...be a pal? huh? pleeeaaassseeee??--