Tsume-n-carnet: Thanks for all the great reviews! I see Tasuki's sisters as constantly trying to 'hook him up' and/or embarrass him... don't you think? ;P anyway, on to the next chapter! (trumpet sounds) YAY!

Another Priestess

Kami sat on a log, watching the dancing fire before her, anxiously biting her bottom lip. Tatara was buissy setting up camp by pitching a tent and setting their bedrolls inside of it. The stars shone brightly overhead in the vast sky, the flat landscape stretching on forever in every direction. Kami took a deep breath, and sighed. She loved camping outdoors, always had since she was a little girl, but somehow... she found it to be even better whenever she looked at the handsome warrior who was fussing over dinner. He had his long brown hair lazily tied back in a loose ponytail and his green eyes were intent on whatever task was at hand. Kami had found it difficult over the last couple of days to keep herself from staring at Tatara's wonderful face.

She shook her head, for what seemed the thousandth time that day, and reminded herself she was already involved with someone... sort of.

"Is everything all right, your eminance?" Tatara asked her suddenly, bringing Kami back from her daze. She smiled and nodded, but then frowned as she noticed he had continued to either call her "my lady" or "your eminance" since she'd arrived in Sairou.

"Everything's fine," she said, forcing a smile. "But do you think you could do me a favor?"

Tatara looked at her in suprise.

"You have to ask, my lady?" he inquired, raising both eyebrows to emphasize his question.

"Yes I do," she stated. "Could you stop calling me 'My lady' and 'your eminance'? I'd like it if you'd just call me Kami."

Tatara stared at her for a long moment. In all honesty, it hadn't occured to him she might want to be called by her first name. He blushed and hung his head slightly, ashamed for being so inconciderate.

"Of course, your- I mean... Kami," he said, smiling up at her. She smiled back, liking the sound of it from him.

Kami once again slapped herself mentally.

'Stop it!' she silently ridiculed herself... again! 'You really need to get your mind off of guys... for once in your life... stop being a pathological flirt!'

"So, how far is it to that village?" Kami asked, trying to distract herself. Tatara dished up some stew for the two of them, before settling on the ground across from her.

"We should reach it by tomorrow afternoon," Tatara answered calmly. Kami nodded.

'Good. The faster we find the warriors, the faster I summon Byakko, and the faster I get to go home!' she thought, quietly eating her soup.

----in 'that village'----

Kami and Tatara entered the outskirts of a small village around noon... just like he'd said they would. The village had a few ramshackle huts scattered aroung the outer perimitter, the inner part of the community being surrounded by a wall. Tatara dismounted when they reached the main gate and lead his and Kami's horse through the great oaken doors. Kamipulled the cloak Tatara had given her tighter around herself, trying to hide her clothing from the villagers.

Tatara made quick work of finding out where the best Inn was from the locals and guided their horses there. Tatara helped Kami down from her horse. A shiver ran up her spine at the contact... and she was forced to once again mentally slap herself.

"Good day to you, sir," a friendly looking man greeted the pair as they walked into the Inn. "Have you come seeking a room for yourself and the lady?"

"Yes, we need a large room for tonight and possibly longer," Tatara answered, smiling at the rather chubby Innkeeper. "We also have two horses we need to get stabled."

"Of course, sir. I'll have one of the hands take care of them," the man replied, eyeing Kami in a strange way. It was a suspicious and an almost accusing look that Kami didn't understand. "You can stay in the room up the stairs and third door to the right."

Tatara thanked the man and quickly ushered Kami to the room. Kami shed her cloak for a moment and set her bag down on the bed. Tatara had already laid his stuff on the floor in a corner.

"Why was that man glaring at me?" Kami asked. She'd gotten stares before now, sure... but none of them had seemed so... hostile to her.

"Don't pay that any mind. He probably thinks that because your skin is lighter that you could be from Qu-dong. Idiotic idea," Tatara mumbled as he laid his bedroll out on the floor. Finishing his work, he stood and faced Kami, still seated on the bed. After a quick glance over her school uniform, he smiled.

"First thing's first, Kami," he started, gaining her attention. "We need to go find you some less conspicuous clothing."

Kami blushed as she looked down at her clothes. He was right... her uniform was going to draw attention... something she was happy to avoid. She would need something more... local.

----with Tasuki----

Miaka didn't have time to wonder just how exactly she and Tamahome had come back to the book. She could only assume Suzaku had decided it was time for another visit... but at the moment, she had a much MUCH bigger concern. Taka had noticed it too, after all, the seven foot demon was kind of hard to miss!

Miaka screamed when she saw it, mostly frightened by how ugly it was. Taka immediately grabbed Miaka and placed her behind him... not that he could do much now... beingofficially a 'normal' human and all with no powers. The demon sneered at the two, an action that made it, if possible, even uglier.

"How fortunate for me, to come upon fresh meat so easily!" it laughed, (ha, that rhymed... sorta)a low booming sound that seemed to vibrate through the ground. Miaka shrank back and Taka cast about desperately for an idea that would get the two of them out of this alive.

"Miaka!" a familiar voice sounded from off to their right. It was closely followed by a shout of,

"Rekka Shinen!" and a burst of flames that engulfed the demon.

"Tasuki!" Miaka shouted happily when she spotted the fire-haired bandit. He grinned and stepped around the pile of ashes, all that remained of the ugly demon.

"Hey! I didn't know you two were gonna come back so soon! I'm glad ta see ya though!" Tasuki said, helping Taka to his feet and shaking hands with the dark-haired boy.

"Tasuki, impecible timing as always," Taka greeted him back, before the bandit was engulfed in Miaka's embrace.

"Tasuki! Did I miss it?" a female voise shouted from the trees. A young, tangirl with long brown hair and hastily thrown on clothes ran into the clearing. She looked to what was formerly a demon and frowned.

"Damn it! I always miss the fun!" she cursed, stomping slightly. Miaka almost laughed at the childish action. Suddenly, the girl's striking blue eyes changed to the three, and she froze.

"Oh! Hello," she greeted, flashing a smile. "Are you friends of Tasuki?"

Miaka looked from the bandit to the girl and back again.

"Uh, yeah, we are. I'm Miaka," she introduced, bowing slightly to the woman. The woman returned the bow before turning to Taka.

"And you...?"

"Oh, I'm Taka," he said, bowing just as Miaka had done. The girl returned the bow as well, still smiling.

"My name's Toroki, it's nice to meet you," she said happily.

"Toroki, this is the priestess of Suzaku," Tasuki said casually. Taka immediately tensed but Toroki's smile just widened.

"OH! Well then, it really is an honor your eminence," she stated formerly, bowing deeply to Miaka.

"I'm sorry, but, how do you know Tasuki?" Miaka asked, more than a little confused. Toroki seemed to blank-out for a minuted and then looked over at Tasuki.

"Oh, well, we just ran into one another recently. I was injured and Tasuki and his family were kind enough to take me in for a few days," Toroki answered. Then, she looked like an idea had just occured to her.

"Oh, that reminds me," she started, before smartly whacking Tasuki in the head with the back of her hand.

"OWE! What the hell!" Tasuki exploded, turning to the grinning girl.

"Oh come on! You didn't really expect me to let you get away with earlier, now did you?" she asked placing her hands on her hips, one eyebrow cocked sceptically.

Tasuki's face immediately went a lovely shade of bright red as he recalled just a few minutes ago.

"Oh, well... nevermind then," he stammered, looking away from the others. Toroki laughed loudly, gaining everyone's attention.

"Well, I'm going to head back to the house now... I need to have a word with your sisters I think," she said thoughtfully to Tasuki before turning to Miaka and Taka. "See you there, milady?"

Miaka nodded and Toroki bowed again before heading off. Taka jabbed a still blushing Tasuki in the ribs.

"Now what was THAT about?" he teased the fire-haired bandit. Tasuki glared at him.

"None of your buisness... that's what!" he spat before stomping off after Toroki. Miaka couldn't hide her grin as Taka snickered.

"Well, I think I'm looking forward to getting to know this Toroki," she said thoughtfully. Taka nodded.

"Me neither, this is going to be an interesting visit."

Tsume-n-carnet: What do you know... I'm not dead! Sorry for the long wait... writer's block in an old enemy of mine... anyway! Hope you enjoy and I'll try to update sooner! later y'all!