The night air was cool and crisp as the Suzaku warriors arrived at the hideout of the bandits of Mt. Reikaku. Halting his horse with a soft 'ho', Tasuki whistled a quick tune into the night air and paused to listen. Before long, a soft rustling could be heard within the bushes. With a loud "TASUKI!" Kouji emerged from the woods flanked by his fellow bandits.

"Is that really you, or am I dreaming that you've come back to join us again?" Kouji teased as he strolled up to the horses. Tasuki laughed and leaned down to grasp arms with his old friend.

"Are you kiddin'? Leave the palace for this dump?" he joked and gave a laugh. "It looks like you've been doing well for yourself," he said as his eyes scanned his best friend from head to foot. Kouji tugged at the collar of his new jacket and grinned.

"Yeah, well, now that there is no more war there's a lot more dough to go around," he replied with a wink.

Tasuki motioned for the other Suzaku warriors to follow him. He eased off his horse with a groan and took a minute to stretch his aching body. After what had happened in the woods, the others hadn't wanted to take any chances. They'd decided against any more unnecessary stops and elected to ride straight through the remaining five hours to their destination. His body would be sore for a week, but knowing Miaka was finally somewhere safe was worth it.

He helped her down from the horse and carried her sleeping form into the bandit hideout. Kouji had kindly offered to let them stay the night and gave each of them their own room. He lifted an inquisitive brow as Tasuki passed by him with Miaka held tightly in his arms, but opted not to say anything. Tasuki would tell him everything, he just needed time to settle in first.

Chichiri watched Tasuki disappear through the cabin door with Miaka and uttered a thoughtful 'Hmmm'. He'd been putting off speaking with the fiery-haired warrior about the wisdom of getting too involved with the Priestess, but perhaps it was time. Miaka had gone through such terrible heartache in her relationship with Tamahome, and later Taka. However much they felt alive in this world, Miaka's appearance was a cruel reminder that in 'reality' they were mere characters in a book. In the end, they were all destined to be separated from her. The sooner Tasuki accepted that hard truth, the better off he would be.


Tasuki carried Miaka into the room Kouji had set aside for her and laid her gently on the bed. He set her collection of bags down next to the bed and then shrugged out of his dust-covered riding jacket. He hung his jacket on the back of the door and then lowered himself onto a nearby stool with a weary sigh. He'd only managed to remove one boot before he noticed her watching him.

"Hey there," he greeted her gently and reached down for his other boot. "How you feelin'?"

She smiled up at him and watched him pull off his other boot, "I feel a lot better now."

He caught the flash of lingering sadness that appeared behind her eyes before she had the chance to look away. She was trying so hard to be strong for him, and the others, too. Typical Miaka, always putting everyone else first.

"Miaka…," he began and fumbled for the right words. They hadn't spoken alone since the forest. There were so many things he wanted to tell her, but he'd never been good at expressing himself that way.

"I'm going to be fine," Miaka cut in and flashed her most reassuring thumbs up.

"You're stronger than all of us put together," he admitted with a light chuckle before going quiet. "You don't gotta love me back," he said softly, "but I'm glad you know the truth now. I'd been wantin' to tell you for a while...just didn't know how."

Miaka smiled tenderly at his words but didn't offer up any confessions of her own. Not that he'd expected her to, of course. His heel bounced anxiously up and down against the floor and he shook his head in disbelief.

"You know, bein' with you is the only thing I've ever been sure about in my whole life," he confessed with a grin. "I'm gonna protect you from whoever's out there after you. Whatever it takes."

"I wish you wouldn't say that," she said with a shake of her head. "I can't lose you too, Tasuki. I can't!"

Seeing tears on her cheeks he dropped to one knee next to the bed and pulled her into his arms, "Miaka, I ain't goin' nowhere. I can handle whatever's comin' this way."

When she looked up at him he could see doubt lingering behind her eyes. How could he make her understand? Tilting her chin up with one hand, he placed a gentle kiss along her bottom lip. He could taste the salt from her tears and used the pads of his thumbs to brush the last of them from her cheeks. Her hands moved slowly, sliding around his neck as he kissed her. The way her fingers gently dragged through the hair at the back of his head sent shivers jetting down his spine.

He pulled back to catch his breath and was surprised to find himself on top of her. His cheeks flamed red and he slowly retreated until he was sitting next to her instead. It rattled him just how easy it'd been to go from kissing her to... He shook his head to clear it and ran a distracted hand through his hair. He couldn't allow himself to get carried away. He might want her more than he'd ever wanted a woman in his life, but it didn't take a genius to realize she wasn't ready. She was still too hurt, still grieving over Taka's death. It wouldn't be right.

"What is it? What's wrong?" she asked, and he winced inwardly at the wounded tone behind her words.

"There's no rush, ya know? I know the way you feel about me isn't... What I'm trying to say is..." Tasuki made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat and shot to his feet. "I'm sayin' I can wait is what I'm sayin'," he finished lamely as the gusto drained out of him. "You're worth waitin' for."

To hear those words from his own lips was truly surreal. He'd never in his life turned down a woman who wanted him, but this was different. She was different. He'd bedded countless women during his days as a bandit, but never someone he truly cared for. Sex was sex, but making love to a woman was something else entirely and he was terrified to his core of disappointing her.

Miaka smiled sweetly and reached her hand out to him, "Tasuki…"

He bent low and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I need to go speak with Kouji and the others to see if they'll help us defeat Kenshin," he explained before sliding his boots back on and heading for the door.

"Are you coming back?" she asked sounding hopeful.

"I'll check in on you before I hit the sack. Kouji gave me a room just down the hall…"

"No!" Miaka blurted out. "It's just… Would you stay here with me tonight? Please?"

She looked at him with those wide, pleading eyes, and Tasuki found he couldn't refuse her. Smiling at her from the door he nodded in agreement.

"I'll be back soon, I promise."

Tasuki closed the door to Miaka's room behind him and made his way down the stairs to the main room. He could already hear the raised voices of his fellow bandits and comrades as they argued over the details and risks of joining their fight against Kenshin. Knowing Kouji, he would convince them to do it just for the adventure. He had a feeling things had been pretty boring for the gang since the war with Kouto ended.

Jumping down the remaining few stairs, he peeked his head into the main room and saw Nuriko already challenging the bandits to an arm wrestling match. Hotohori was squirreled away in a corner enjoying the adoring affections of a young bandit who had yet to realize he was a man. It was no surprise that Chichiri was absent. He tended to prefer his own company most of the time anyways, but he was always there when it mattered.

Realizing Kouji wasn't in the main room either, Tasuki made his way outside to look for him. It didn't take long to find him. Kouji was a creature of habit and had a very short list of spots where he liked to mull things over. He stood with his arms crossed and his back leaning against the side of the cabin. His eyes gazed up at the starry night sky overhead, studying the various constellations. Tasuki joined him with his back against the wall.

"So whaddya think?" he asked and felt Kouji shrug.

"There's a lot of back and forth, but I think the side that's in favour of fighting this Kenshin guy is winning. It shouldn't be a problem. You know we'll always help out our friends."

Tasuki nodded and smiled grimly. Several moments of silence passed before Kouji braced his arm against the wall and turned to face him.

"So what's the story with the girl? I thought she was Taka's wife."

"He's dead," Tasuki replied with a hint of bitterness. He was too exhausted to recount all the details just yet, but would tell him all of it in time. Kouji's eyes went wide and he gave a low whistle.

"So you really care for this broad," he deduced with nod of his head.

Tasuki's eyes shifted to meet Kouji's, "I love her. Always have."

Kouji grinned wide and clapped his shoulder, "Well good luck to you my friend. I'll warn you though, be careful with her. Goin' through what she has can change a person."

Tasuki nodded grimly, "Yeah. I know."

"I'd better get back inside before that bunch of idiots burn the place down," Kouji said with a jerk of his thumb toward the door. "I'll see you in there."

Tasuki nodded and watched him go before turning his gaze up towards the bright full moon. It felt like a lifetime had passed since he'd last called this place home. His life had been much simpler then. Everything seemed so complicated now, with Miaka and the others. Not so long ago they'd been friends, with that barrier to something more yet uncrossed. Now what were they? Comrades? Lovers? Something in-between?

Just because she kissed you doesn't mean anything, he reminded himself sharply. She hasn't actually told you how she feels about you.

That last nagging thought stuck in Tasuki's mind. There was no doubt about the sincerity of his feelings for her. He was relieved she finally knew the truth. But had she ever expressed more than friendship towards him? Even once?

Tasuki gave a frustrated bang of his fist against the wall. He could be patient for her. Miaka would grow to love him in time, he was certain of it. With one last lingering look at the moon Tasuki pushed away from the wall and stalked into the cabin to join the rest of his friends. He took some small comfort from the knowledge that for tonight, at least, he'd be able to sleep with Miaka resting securely in his arms.