Tsume-n-carnet: (runs in completely out of breath) GAH! SORRY! SO SO SOOOO SORRY! ok, I know, long wait once again! i'm sorry! I really am trying but life's getting a little hectic for me... but I shall do my best! thank you all! especially Kristall! you're reviews always make me smile :)!

Monks and Robbers

Tasuki stood calmly outside the front door, watching the sun rise. Reds and oranges painted the still violet sky, creating a beautiful image. However, Tasuki wasn't really seeing it... he was too consummed in his own thoughts. He really couldn't figure Toroki out. At first, she had wanted to get as far from them and his priestess as possible. Now she was offering to be their guide?

Tasuki scowled at the lightening sky as the sun peaked over the trees. Toroki was going to explain herself, whether she wanted to or not. Now the problem was getting her alone.

Since the night before Toroki was sticking annoyingly close to either his sisters, or Miaka and Tama... Taka... GAH! WHATEVER!

Tasuki sighed, this was starting to piss him off.

'I wish Chiri would hurry up an' get here already,' he thought grumpily. 'He was always better at readin' people. C'mon Chiri, where the hell are ya?'

"Somebody ask for me, no da?"

"GAH!" Tasuki started and backstepped in surprise as the blue-haired seishi appeared not two inches from his face.

"CHIRI! Warn a guy 'fore ya pull that crap, would ya!" Tasuki yelled, punching the monk's arm lightly. Chichiri chuckled and did a little bow.

"Sorry, Tasuki," the monk started. "I didn't mean to startle you, no da."

"Well ya did!" Tasuki shot back, crossing his arms grumpily.

"Chichiri! You're here!" Miaka came running out of the house, followed by Taka, and threw her arms around the blue-haired monk.

"It is good to see you again, Miaka," Chichiri said happily, hugging his priestess back. "Taka, glad to see you too, no da."

Taka nodded and grasped arms with his fellow seishi, smiling.

"Good to see you too, Chiri... now we can get out of here," he responded. Chichiri looked slightly confused.

"Ne, no da?" he inquired. Miaka almost giggled at how much Chichiri resembled a kitten inspecting a curious insect.

"Chichiri, we're heading to Sairou and we were waiting for you so we could head out," she explained. Chichiri's expression went from confused to excited in two seconds flat.

"Well then! We should get going, no da!" he chirped happily.

"Indeed, we should," Toroki spoke, leading horses over to the group. She looked the the blue haired seishi and smiled, bowing slightly. "You must be Chichiri. I'm Toroki, pleasure to meet you."

"Pleasure to meet you too, no da," Chichiri responded, looking slightly suprised.

"Quite yappin'! Let's get goin' already," Tasuki snapped, mounting his horse and starting off. Toroki sighed and waved to Tasuki's family before mounting and following with the rest of the group.

"What's the matter with Tasuki, no da?" Chichiri asked his priestess after they had followed Tasuki's angry back for nearly thirty minutes.

Miaka shrugged.

"He's been moping since last night," Taka said in a bored tone.

Toroki looked down at her hands and said nothing. It was her again... she knew it. Dang it! What did he want from her? She'd told him more then she'd ever told anyone and he was still being pissy with everyone. She sighed in frustration. She was coming with them, hadn't HE wanted her to stay longer? HE was the one who had been pissed about her leaving. So then what in the name of Byakko was shoved up his butt?

Chichiri watched their new companion closely. She was seishi, he could tell, probably one of the Byakko seven. She was quiet, reserved, but with a fighting spirit... that at this point and time seemed to be clashing with Tasuki. For some reason they were both on edge around eachother, frustration, anger... and hurt clouding their auras. He mulled over this new situation with great interest. It had been some time since Tasuki had shown interest in a woman, and how interesting that it was another seishi.

Chichiri smirked behind his mask as he watched Tasuki trotting ahead. This would be an interesting trip.

T.N.C. : ok... so kinda short... but I thought you'd at least want something. Suggestions always welcome! thanks!