I'm updating again. O.o Enjoy. . Disclaimer says I own everything 'cept
Shishi. T-T I'd like to.
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'Sakura . . . Coast?' Shishi thought. He truly must have strayed far from his village. He had never heard of such a place.
"You must be hungry. You seem to have had a really long journey." Tsukira spoke up, interrupting his thoughts.
Shishi looked over at her again, and the 'stuff' in the bowl she was holding. "If it means eating -that-, then I'm not hungry." Shishi replied indignantly.
"Please, it will help you regain your strength." Tsukira urged, holding the bowl out to him. Shishi could have sworn it was smiling at him.
Shishi groaned lightly, before grabbing the bowl from her hands and slurping the goop down as fast as possible, hoping the taste would not linger in his delicate palette.
Tsukira watched his eating pace and sweat dropped lightly behind a smile. 'Sure has a health appetite.' She thought.
Once Shishi had finished, he set the bowl down and coughed. Maybe he ate a little too fast. "Hey, that stuff isn't as bad as it looks." He stated, licking his lips.
"You sure are brave. That's the fastest I've seen anyone eat a mixture of guay droppings and sakura pollen." She remarked, nearly laughing out loud at the expression on Shishi's face as he began gagging. She handed him a cup of water and he downed it with great pace.
Once he was finished with his water, he leered up at the powder blue haired girl. "And I suppose you thought that was funny?"
"Hey, a priestess has to get her laughs anyway she can." Tsukira joked as she took the bowl and the glass and exited the room. "Get dressed and meet me in the main hall. I'll show you around!" She called as she walked down the hall.
Shishi sat there and pouted lightly. "Damn woman." He muttered as he got up. (A/N: His usual outfit from the show is going to be new to him in this fic. o.O Just so it kinda flows, ya know?) He looked at the outfit that was supplied to him by the village. White top, blue puff pants, red sash . . . he shrugged and threw it on. "Not bad." He remarked as he looked at it. He groped at this side for the familiar wooden hilt of his sword, and slightly panicked when he couldn't find it.
"My sword!! Where's my sword?!" He shouted, Tsukira cringed lightly as she heard him thundering down the hall towards her location.
Tsukira turned around to face the agitated swordsman and laughed lightly. "Heh . . . it was taken from you when you were found. Probably by the village priests. It's not everyday someone falls down that dune that wields a blade. They probably took it because they were afraid-"
"I don't care if they were afraid! I want my damn sword!" Shishi interrupted.
"You shouldn't get so worked up! They'll probably give it back once you've proved you won't-"
"Did you not hear me?" Shishi sneered. "I want my sword back, and I want to leave as soon as I get it."
"But I haven't even shown you-"
"I don't want to see you're damn village!" Shishi shouted, getting more and more annoyed of this girl's foolishness. Obviously he hit one of Tsukira's weak points, for her eyes started to well up with tears. 'Oh great," Shishi thought, sighing in exasperation.
"I'm sorry . . . you must think me rather foolish. It's just . . . I'm trying to be the best priestess I can be, to replace my mother who has recently passed on." Tsukira said, barely above a whisper. "I'm trying to make you comfortable, and I'm obviously making you the opposite." She said, the tears still welling up. She bowed a few times, saying sorry in between each bow.
Shishi looked at her, and he pitied her. Poor girl, and obviously he wasn't making her feel any better. "Look . . . I . . . I'm sorry. It's just I've been through a lot lately and I guess I just needed to vent it. You're not making me feel uncomfortable, really." Shishi said, hesitating, but reached over and patted her lightly on the back a few times to stop the tears and apologies.
"Oh . . . well. Then I guess you should just rest some more. I don't want to bother you with a silly little tour right now." Tsukira stated, sounding a little hurt still, as she walked towards the exit.
Shishi sighed once again. 'Darn this guilt.' He thought as he ran after her. "Girl! Gir-!" 'Damn what was her name?!' "Tsukira! Wait!" He called after her. She turned to face him, a confused expression on her face. " . . . I'd . . . I'd love to tour the area with you." Shishi said, halfway forcing the words out.
"Really?!" Tsukira asked, her bright smile returning to her face. "Great! Come on! Let's go!" She cried happily, nearly dragging Shishi out the door to begin their tour.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tsukira showed Shishi the beautiful scenery that lay within the boundaries of Sakura Coast. Shishi thought Tsukira very lucky to live in such a beautiful place, where no one bothered her.
Tsukira showed him the vast expanse of coastline, the buzzing village and markets, the dunes (which he smiled faintly when he saw the one that led him to this village ), the farmland, and then lastly took him to one of her favorite places.
"This is usually where I come to think. I love it here. If you listen closely, the trees sometimes pass their wisdom to you. Century old knowledge is kept in those noble roots." Tsukira rattled on as Shishi surveyed the area.
It was very beautiful. A shimmering blue lake in the middle of a forest of sakura trees. It seemed pretty secluded. No wonder Tsukira came here to think.
"-I come here to get answers for questions the committee drops on me suddenly. It's always great to escape the world, right Shishi?" Shishi picked up on Tsukira's voice again, and turned to face her as she smiled and giggled free heartedly as she stared up at the flowing sakura trees.
Shishi couldn't help but smile too. He felt so at ease. And it wasn't only just this place. Tsukira made him feel more open to the world. She opened up new feelings that he'd never felt before, at least when he wasn't annoyed.
"Tsukira?" Shishi asked, facing the lavender eyed priestess.
She in turn, looked back at him. "Yes Shishi?" she asked.
"I . . . ummm . . .-"
"Priestess!!? Priestess Tsukira!? Where are you?!" A villager's voice called out.
Tsukira turned away from Shishi, and looked at the figure at the entrance of the forest. "Oh dear. We had better get back Shishi. Come o- "
"Wait." Shishi said, grabbing her wrist as she turned to walk away.
"Shishi? What is-"
"It's them." Shishi said, sniffing the air lightly. The scent was unmistakeable. The stench that stung your nose. Gunpowder, and filthy men on sweaty horses.
"Who is 'them'?" Tsukira questioned.
"The ones that are obviously hunting me now." Shishi replied coolly. "The soldiers from the village, where I 'killed' a kid." Shishi snorted at the statement.
"You . . . killed-"
"Priestess!! These men want a word!" The villager shouted again.
"I'm coming!" She shouted in response, before turning to Shishi again. "You don't look like the type that would-"
"Tell it to them." Shishi cut her off, nodding towards the entrance. "Go. Tell them I'm here. Turn me in and take your reward. That's all you filthy humans do is backstab." Shishi said, the words stinging Tsukira like venom. Shishi pushed her forward and relinquished his hold on her wrist.
Tsukira looked very hurt at this. Behind her the villager was still shouting for her, and before her Shishi glared at her menacingly. "Shishi . . . I-"
"Priestess!!!?!"
"GO!" Shishi barked.
Tsukira whipped around and ran for the entrance of the forest. Her head ached as Shishi's words played through her mind. What was it with him that made him so closed off? So untrusting?
She reached the entrance to the forest and ran out, meeting the villager who had been calling for her.
"They are by the temple, my lady." The villager bowed lightly.
He led Tsukira back to the temple, where a unit of about seven soldiers waited.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shishi stood there, defiant as he saw Tsukira flee from him. "It's only right. Might as well get her to hate you, just like everyone else." Shishi thought aloud. "Hmmm . . . let's go see how she'll handle the situation of turning me in. I can always slip away easily afterwards." Shishi smirked as he began to walk the way Tsukira had ran.
Once he arrived at the location where the soldiers waited, he hid behind a corner of the temple and peeked past it, and spied on the little group. "This should be interesting."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The soldiers bowed as Tsukira walked over. She bowed in return.
"My lady Tsukira, we have visited your village on account of a runaway fugitive." The general spoke.
"I see." Tsukira replied, rather calm. Shishi found this odd, but it wouldn't change anything.
"He is wanted on a count of murdering a young boy a few weeks ago in the village of Masai. We are offering a hefty reward for turning him in." The general continued.
"I see." Tsukira repeated.
"5,000 gold pieces is the bounty on his head." The general said, trying to get some type of reaction from Tsukira.
"That's quite a lot for one man." Tsukira stated, as the rest of the villagers around her buzzed at the thought of all that gold.
"Well, you see, he is no man. He is a demon." The general smiled, almost wickedly. "So if he was, say, residing here, it would do your village good if you turned him in so he would bring no one to harm."
Tsukira gasped lightly. Demon? What if he was talking about Shishi? Was he . . . a demon? "Describe him, please." Tsukira asked.
"Blue hair, light red eyes, and a rather smug expression at times if you ask me." The general sighed, a little annoyed at the questioning.
The villagers gasped. "P-Priestess! That sounds like the man we took in! The one that fell down the dune!" One villager said, while the others nodded. They all looked at Tsukira for an explanation.
"Yes, it may. But it's not specific enough." Tsukira stated.
"I'm afraid I cannot be anymore specific, my lady." The general said, growling lightly. "But if you have anyone here that looks like that, I urge you to turn him in."
"What's this demon's name?" Tsukira asked, not even nearly convinced it was the man she was with a few minutes prior.
"Shishiwakamaru." The general said, frowning lightly when he got no response from Tsukira.
"Priestess! Is that the name of the man?! Was that his name?!" The villagers asked.
Shishi still looked on, waiting for the human wench to nod or simply say 'Yes, that's his name.' He waited to be turned in.
The silence loomed. Tsukira stood straight, the delicate features of her face slightly tense and serious. 'It is him. He IS a demon . . .' She thought. She shook her head and gazed out once again at the onlookers. Her serious face finally melted down and she smiled. "No. That is not his name." She replied.
Shishi almost gasped in surprise. She hadn't turned him in!!! But why?! She was going to throw all that money away?! She didn't even know him! 'Stupid girl! Just say yes!' He shouted mentally.
"There is no man named Shishiwakamaru in this village. I'm sorry." Tsukira responded again.
The general looked tense. He frowned and then tuned to his men. "Move out!" He shouted, as they all mounted their horses and galloped away. "Well . . . -my lady- . . . we'll be back in a few weeks time to check and make sure you're village is . . . prospering." The general said from atop his mighty black stallion. The stallion pawed at the ground and snorted, eager to catch up with the other horses. "I bid thee farewell!" He called, casting the villagers one last -fake- smile.
The villagers soon cleared out of the area, and went back to their business.
"Too bad that bloke wasn't 'ere . . . think of what we could do with 5,000 gold pieces!" One villager shouted to another as he swept a step. All the other villagers conversed on the same topic for a while, before talking about the normal things they usually did.
A little while later, Shishi found himself in the temple. He had managed to avoid the villagers on his way inside. He stared at the closed door, which led to the sacred prayer room. He knew Tsukira was in there.
'Come one Shishi, just open the damn door.' He thought as he rested a hand on the knob. Before he could think anymore, he found himself inside the chamber, shutting the door behind him quietly.
Tsukira kneeled there, hands together in a praying position, as she prayed before a statue. The statue was of what looked like a fox deity. (A/N: No, not Youko. O_o;) Sweet smelling incense burned on all sides of the room.
Shishi seemed entranced by the room, and he didn't notice when Tsukira turned and saw him standing there. He finally looked down, and almost jumped in surprise when he met her lavender gaze.
"Shishi-"
"Tsukira why didn't you turn me in?!" Shishi hissed slightly, keeping his voice down in the sacred chamber.
"Because I-"
"You could have had all that gold to help your village!! You could have saved yourself involvement with those thuggish soldiers! You could have rid yourself of the dangers of having me around! You could have-"
"You didn't do those things they said!" Tsukira cried, jumping to her feet. "I know you wouldn't murder a child! I know I haven't known you long . . . but I . . . but I . . ."
Shishi was taken by surprise as she approached him. Their faces were probably mere inches apart when she stopped. "I can see it in your eyes." She said, staring into his reddish orbs.
" . . . Tsukira." Shishi whispered, his thoughts and emotions intertwining in his mind.
Tsukira smiled and took a step back, helping Shishi breathe easier.
"What were you praying for?" Shishi asked.
Tsukira again turned to him and smiled. "Simple. You having to not worry about these false accusations upon your person. You being able to live freely. Your happiness."
Shishi blinked, rather bewildered. He could have started crying, but he felt himself above that so he just smiled, he smiled for real.
"Tsukira?" He asked.
"Hm?" She looked at him.
"Do you trust me?" He asked.
Tsukira smiled. "Of course I do, Ryou." She replied, giggling lightly.
"Ryou? Whose Ryou?" Shishi questioned, arching a brow.
"It's you. At least your name around the villagers. We can't very well have them know you are the 'infamous' Shishiwakamaru, can we?" She teased.
Normally, Shishi would have made a snide remark. But not now. Tsukira had done too much for him. She had taken care of him, protected him, covered for him, and now she trusted him.
"Shishi?" Tsukira's voice floated to Shishi's eats, catching his attention once again.
"Yes Tsukira?" He asked.
"Do you trust me?" She asked, her eyes glittering from the small amount of firelight in the room.
Shishi looked at her in surprise. She was so beautiful. She had some much respect in this village. Why should she trust a felon such as himself? She shouldn't. . . . But she did.
He smiled a true smile, his reply true as well. "I do."
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Ya likey? ^^ I enjoyed writing this chapter. Very meaningful. True trust is hard to come by. Well, ja ne!! Please review! ^^
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'Sakura . . . Coast?' Shishi thought. He truly must have strayed far from his village. He had never heard of such a place.
"You must be hungry. You seem to have had a really long journey." Tsukira spoke up, interrupting his thoughts.
Shishi looked over at her again, and the 'stuff' in the bowl she was holding. "If it means eating -that-, then I'm not hungry." Shishi replied indignantly.
"Please, it will help you regain your strength." Tsukira urged, holding the bowl out to him. Shishi could have sworn it was smiling at him.
Shishi groaned lightly, before grabbing the bowl from her hands and slurping the goop down as fast as possible, hoping the taste would not linger in his delicate palette.
Tsukira watched his eating pace and sweat dropped lightly behind a smile. 'Sure has a health appetite.' She thought.
Once Shishi had finished, he set the bowl down and coughed. Maybe he ate a little too fast. "Hey, that stuff isn't as bad as it looks." He stated, licking his lips.
"You sure are brave. That's the fastest I've seen anyone eat a mixture of guay droppings and sakura pollen." She remarked, nearly laughing out loud at the expression on Shishi's face as he began gagging. She handed him a cup of water and he downed it with great pace.
Once he was finished with his water, he leered up at the powder blue haired girl. "And I suppose you thought that was funny?"
"Hey, a priestess has to get her laughs anyway she can." Tsukira joked as she took the bowl and the glass and exited the room. "Get dressed and meet me in the main hall. I'll show you around!" She called as she walked down the hall.
Shishi sat there and pouted lightly. "Damn woman." He muttered as he got up. (A/N: His usual outfit from the show is going to be new to him in this fic. o.O Just so it kinda flows, ya know?) He looked at the outfit that was supplied to him by the village. White top, blue puff pants, red sash . . . he shrugged and threw it on. "Not bad." He remarked as he looked at it. He groped at this side for the familiar wooden hilt of his sword, and slightly panicked when he couldn't find it.
"My sword!! Where's my sword?!" He shouted, Tsukira cringed lightly as she heard him thundering down the hall towards her location.
Tsukira turned around to face the agitated swordsman and laughed lightly. "Heh . . . it was taken from you when you were found. Probably by the village priests. It's not everyday someone falls down that dune that wields a blade. They probably took it because they were afraid-"
"I don't care if they were afraid! I want my damn sword!" Shishi interrupted.
"You shouldn't get so worked up! They'll probably give it back once you've proved you won't-"
"Did you not hear me?" Shishi sneered. "I want my sword back, and I want to leave as soon as I get it."
"But I haven't even shown you-"
"I don't want to see you're damn village!" Shishi shouted, getting more and more annoyed of this girl's foolishness. Obviously he hit one of Tsukira's weak points, for her eyes started to well up with tears. 'Oh great," Shishi thought, sighing in exasperation.
"I'm sorry . . . you must think me rather foolish. It's just . . . I'm trying to be the best priestess I can be, to replace my mother who has recently passed on." Tsukira said, barely above a whisper. "I'm trying to make you comfortable, and I'm obviously making you the opposite." She said, the tears still welling up. She bowed a few times, saying sorry in between each bow.
Shishi looked at her, and he pitied her. Poor girl, and obviously he wasn't making her feel any better. "Look . . . I . . . I'm sorry. It's just I've been through a lot lately and I guess I just needed to vent it. You're not making me feel uncomfortable, really." Shishi said, hesitating, but reached over and patted her lightly on the back a few times to stop the tears and apologies.
"Oh . . . well. Then I guess you should just rest some more. I don't want to bother you with a silly little tour right now." Tsukira stated, sounding a little hurt still, as she walked towards the exit.
Shishi sighed once again. 'Darn this guilt.' He thought as he ran after her. "Girl! Gir-!" 'Damn what was her name?!' "Tsukira! Wait!" He called after her. She turned to face him, a confused expression on her face. " . . . I'd . . . I'd love to tour the area with you." Shishi said, halfway forcing the words out.
"Really?!" Tsukira asked, her bright smile returning to her face. "Great! Come on! Let's go!" She cried happily, nearly dragging Shishi out the door to begin their tour.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tsukira showed Shishi the beautiful scenery that lay within the boundaries of Sakura Coast. Shishi thought Tsukira very lucky to live in such a beautiful place, where no one bothered her.
Tsukira showed him the vast expanse of coastline, the buzzing village and markets, the dunes (which he smiled faintly when he saw the one that led him to this village ), the farmland, and then lastly took him to one of her favorite places.
"This is usually where I come to think. I love it here. If you listen closely, the trees sometimes pass their wisdom to you. Century old knowledge is kept in those noble roots." Tsukira rattled on as Shishi surveyed the area.
It was very beautiful. A shimmering blue lake in the middle of a forest of sakura trees. It seemed pretty secluded. No wonder Tsukira came here to think.
"-I come here to get answers for questions the committee drops on me suddenly. It's always great to escape the world, right Shishi?" Shishi picked up on Tsukira's voice again, and turned to face her as she smiled and giggled free heartedly as she stared up at the flowing sakura trees.
Shishi couldn't help but smile too. He felt so at ease. And it wasn't only just this place. Tsukira made him feel more open to the world. She opened up new feelings that he'd never felt before, at least when he wasn't annoyed.
"Tsukira?" Shishi asked, facing the lavender eyed priestess.
She in turn, looked back at him. "Yes Shishi?" she asked.
"I . . . ummm . . .-"
"Priestess!!? Priestess Tsukira!? Where are you?!" A villager's voice called out.
Tsukira turned away from Shishi, and looked at the figure at the entrance of the forest. "Oh dear. We had better get back Shishi. Come o- "
"Wait." Shishi said, grabbing her wrist as she turned to walk away.
"Shishi? What is-"
"It's them." Shishi said, sniffing the air lightly. The scent was unmistakeable. The stench that stung your nose. Gunpowder, and filthy men on sweaty horses.
"Who is 'them'?" Tsukira questioned.
"The ones that are obviously hunting me now." Shishi replied coolly. "The soldiers from the village, where I 'killed' a kid." Shishi snorted at the statement.
"You . . . killed-"
"Priestess!! These men want a word!" The villager shouted again.
"I'm coming!" She shouted in response, before turning to Shishi again. "You don't look like the type that would-"
"Tell it to them." Shishi cut her off, nodding towards the entrance. "Go. Tell them I'm here. Turn me in and take your reward. That's all you filthy humans do is backstab." Shishi said, the words stinging Tsukira like venom. Shishi pushed her forward and relinquished his hold on her wrist.
Tsukira looked very hurt at this. Behind her the villager was still shouting for her, and before her Shishi glared at her menacingly. "Shishi . . . I-"
"Priestess!!!?!"
"GO!" Shishi barked.
Tsukira whipped around and ran for the entrance of the forest. Her head ached as Shishi's words played through her mind. What was it with him that made him so closed off? So untrusting?
She reached the entrance to the forest and ran out, meeting the villager who had been calling for her.
"They are by the temple, my lady." The villager bowed lightly.
He led Tsukira back to the temple, where a unit of about seven soldiers waited.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shishi stood there, defiant as he saw Tsukira flee from him. "It's only right. Might as well get her to hate you, just like everyone else." Shishi thought aloud. "Hmmm . . . let's go see how she'll handle the situation of turning me in. I can always slip away easily afterwards." Shishi smirked as he began to walk the way Tsukira had ran.
Once he arrived at the location where the soldiers waited, he hid behind a corner of the temple and peeked past it, and spied on the little group. "This should be interesting."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The soldiers bowed as Tsukira walked over. She bowed in return.
"My lady Tsukira, we have visited your village on account of a runaway fugitive." The general spoke.
"I see." Tsukira replied, rather calm. Shishi found this odd, but it wouldn't change anything.
"He is wanted on a count of murdering a young boy a few weeks ago in the village of Masai. We are offering a hefty reward for turning him in." The general continued.
"I see." Tsukira repeated.
"5,000 gold pieces is the bounty on his head." The general said, trying to get some type of reaction from Tsukira.
"That's quite a lot for one man." Tsukira stated, as the rest of the villagers around her buzzed at the thought of all that gold.
"Well, you see, he is no man. He is a demon." The general smiled, almost wickedly. "So if he was, say, residing here, it would do your village good if you turned him in so he would bring no one to harm."
Tsukira gasped lightly. Demon? What if he was talking about Shishi? Was he . . . a demon? "Describe him, please." Tsukira asked.
"Blue hair, light red eyes, and a rather smug expression at times if you ask me." The general sighed, a little annoyed at the questioning.
The villagers gasped. "P-Priestess! That sounds like the man we took in! The one that fell down the dune!" One villager said, while the others nodded. They all looked at Tsukira for an explanation.
"Yes, it may. But it's not specific enough." Tsukira stated.
"I'm afraid I cannot be anymore specific, my lady." The general said, growling lightly. "But if you have anyone here that looks like that, I urge you to turn him in."
"What's this demon's name?" Tsukira asked, not even nearly convinced it was the man she was with a few minutes prior.
"Shishiwakamaru." The general said, frowning lightly when he got no response from Tsukira.
"Priestess! Is that the name of the man?! Was that his name?!" The villagers asked.
Shishi still looked on, waiting for the human wench to nod or simply say 'Yes, that's his name.' He waited to be turned in.
The silence loomed. Tsukira stood straight, the delicate features of her face slightly tense and serious. 'It is him. He IS a demon . . .' She thought. She shook her head and gazed out once again at the onlookers. Her serious face finally melted down and she smiled. "No. That is not his name." She replied.
Shishi almost gasped in surprise. She hadn't turned him in!!! But why?! She was going to throw all that money away?! She didn't even know him! 'Stupid girl! Just say yes!' He shouted mentally.
"There is no man named Shishiwakamaru in this village. I'm sorry." Tsukira responded again.
The general looked tense. He frowned and then tuned to his men. "Move out!" He shouted, as they all mounted their horses and galloped away. "Well . . . -my lady- . . . we'll be back in a few weeks time to check and make sure you're village is . . . prospering." The general said from atop his mighty black stallion. The stallion pawed at the ground and snorted, eager to catch up with the other horses. "I bid thee farewell!" He called, casting the villagers one last -fake- smile.
The villagers soon cleared out of the area, and went back to their business.
"Too bad that bloke wasn't 'ere . . . think of what we could do with 5,000 gold pieces!" One villager shouted to another as he swept a step. All the other villagers conversed on the same topic for a while, before talking about the normal things they usually did.
A little while later, Shishi found himself in the temple. He had managed to avoid the villagers on his way inside. He stared at the closed door, which led to the sacred prayer room. He knew Tsukira was in there.
'Come one Shishi, just open the damn door.' He thought as he rested a hand on the knob. Before he could think anymore, he found himself inside the chamber, shutting the door behind him quietly.
Tsukira kneeled there, hands together in a praying position, as she prayed before a statue. The statue was of what looked like a fox deity. (A/N: No, not Youko. O_o;) Sweet smelling incense burned on all sides of the room.
Shishi seemed entranced by the room, and he didn't notice when Tsukira turned and saw him standing there. He finally looked down, and almost jumped in surprise when he met her lavender gaze.
"Shishi-"
"Tsukira why didn't you turn me in?!" Shishi hissed slightly, keeping his voice down in the sacred chamber.
"Because I-"
"You could have had all that gold to help your village!! You could have saved yourself involvement with those thuggish soldiers! You could have rid yourself of the dangers of having me around! You could have-"
"You didn't do those things they said!" Tsukira cried, jumping to her feet. "I know you wouldn't murder a child! I know I haven't known you long . . . but I . . . but I . . ."
Shishi was taken by surprise as she approached him. Their faces were probably mere inches apart when she stopped. "I can see it in your eyes." She said, staring into his reddish orbs.
" . . . Tsukira." Shishi whispered, his thoughts and emotions intertwining in his mind.
Tsukira smiled and took a step back, helping Shishi breathe easier.
"What were you praying for?" Shishi asked.
Tsukira again turned to him and smiled. "Simple. You having to not worry about these false accusations upon your person. You being able to live freely. Your happiness."
Shishi blinked, rather bewildered. He could have started crying, but he felt himself above that so he just smiled, he smiled for real.
"Tsukira?" He asked.
"Hm?" She looked at him.
"Do you trust me?" He asked.
Tsukira smiled. "Of course I do, Ryou." She replied, giggling lightly.
"Ryou? Whose Ryou?" Shishi questioned, arching a brow.
"It's you. At least your name around the villagers. We can't very well have them know you are the 'infamous' Shishiwakamaru, can we?" She teased.
Normally, Shishi would have made a snide remark. But not now. Tsukira had done too much for him. She had taken care of him, protected him, covered for him, and now she trusted him.
"Shishi?" Tsukira's voice floated to Shishi's eats, catching his attention once again.
"Yes Tsukira?" He asked.
"Do you trust me?" She asked, her eyes glittering from the small amount of firelight in the room.
Shishi looked at her in surprise. She was so beautiful. She had some much respect in this village. Why should she trust a felon such as himself? She shouldn't. . . . But she did.
He smiled a true smile, his reply true as well. "I do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ya likey? ^^ I enjoyed writing this chapter. Very meaningful. True trust is hard to come by. Well, ja ne!! Please review! ^^