Pinkshuchan: LALIHO! Hey everyone! Pinkshuchan here! Last chapter our heroes had saved Byakko and found out the identity of the source of the Dark Venom. But now Eiri is beginning to feel like his life has no meaning. What will happen to him now that he knows the things he had known in the most important parts in his life had been nothing more than lies? Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 34

The Decision

Things had been very quiet since everyone found out that the one behind everything the Dark Venom had done was Yuki, who was supposed to have been dead six years ago. Then again, there was nothing to say. Somehow he managed to escape death and had been manipulating everything without their knowledge. It was harsh for everyone knowing that Yuki, who is also known to be a powerful yokai although not as powerful as the Four Great Yokai, would still be alive the entire time and try to destroy them all.

But none were suffering more than Eiri, for he felt like his entire existence had been nothing more than a lie. If the monks are really trying to have him dead and the yokai he thought he killed was really alive, then he felt that his journey had been pointless from the start. The reason why he went on this journey in the first place was because he had supposedly killed Yuki and the monks believed in him enough to send him all over Japan to rid evil that would pose a threat. Nothing good really came out of it.

Well actually, one thing good had come to him. And it was coming his way.

Shuichi had come up behind Eiri while he was sitting alone deep in the forest. Seeing that the monk had been there by himself got the pink haired boy to worry. Shuichi wrapped his arms around him from behind, leaning his head into the older man's nape.

"Are you alright?" Shuichi whispered softly, "I know you're upset, but please let it go. No one wants to see you suffering this way Yuki."

Normally whenever the boy tried to calm him, Eiri would comply and cheer up. However, this time he only got angrier. He forced Shuichi's arms to let go of him and he just glared at him. "Why do you call me that?" he began yelling, "The only reason why I was called Yuki in the first place was because everyone thought I killed him and they used that name on me to give Japan encouragement. But Yuki is alive; you were right there to hear it. But yet you still call me Yuki as if the real Yuki was still dead. Why? WHY?"

Shuichi had cringed when Eiri began yelling at him. When the yelling had stopped, the boy just lowered his head so his eyes were covered by his bangs. He was silent for a bit and Eiri was ready to walk off. But then he heard a tiny voice from Shuichi.

"I know," he responded, "I know that Yuki is still alive. I know that I heard that he was still alive. I know that you didn't really destroy him. But even though you never destroyed him, you did defeat him. If he really thought that you were weaker than him, he would've killed you instead of faking his own death," He raised his head, showing confidence in his eyes. "No, I believe that you are stronger than him. He would've been dead if he hadn't have found a way to escape. And that's why to me, you'll always be Yuki, the monk that defeated the powerful yokai Yuki when he was still so young," He stood up and walked towards Eiri, placing his hand on the monk's cheek. "And no matter what, whether you are the hero of Japan or just another monk, you'll always be the man I love."

Shuichi moved himself closer to Eiri and began kissing him. Eiri complied, pulling Shuichi close to him, stroking the soft pink strands of hair that fell as soon as the ribbon that held them up became undone. As soon as they pulled apart, Shuichi looked up at Eiri with hopeful amethyst eyes.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked, his voice sounding almost melodious.

Eiri sighed. "Yuki's revival is still a little hard to get over, but not too hard to keep me from continuing this journey," He turned his head to the right, looking up at the sky. "The monks back at Kyoto might know something about it. I'll head for Kyoto tomorrow."

"Alright, we'll leave tomorrow." said Shuichi.

The monk looked back at the boy. "No, you can't. None of you can come with me to Kyoto."

"Why not?"

"You and the others are yokai. The monks will try to destroy any yokai in sight, believing that all are evil. And K was sent by them to try to kill us. They see him and everyone will get in even more danger. I can't take you with me."

"That's easy to say about the others, but unlike them I can just come with you in human form instead of yokai form."

"Yes, but you're forgetting one important thing; the full moon. The full moon might rise but the time we make it to Kyoto. I don't want to risk getting you and everyone else hurt."

"But Yuki, you can't head to Kyoto by yourself. What if a strong yokai tries to kill you?"

Eiri smirked. "Huh. What happened to 'You are stronger than Yuki?'"

"I'm not saying you couldn't beat them. I just worry about what might happen to you if a powerful yokai comes along and you don't have anything to defend yourself. What if you're injured when they attack you? You're not invincible."

"Nonetheless I can't bring you and everyone else with me just to save my own skin."

Shuichi sighed. "How about a compromise?" he asked, "Everyone won't come with you to Kyoto, but you bring Ayaka with you. At least then I'll know you'll be safe. She would be able to look like some ordinary staff when she's there with you and if something does happen to you, she can protect you. Either that or I'll follow you there whether you tell me to or not."

Eiri glared at him. "You're not going to stop until I agree to your little compromise, are you?" He sighed. "Fine. I'll take Ayaka with you. But only her and I can't see you coming to Kyoto with me. Understood?"

Shuichi took out his hand. "It's a deal?"

The monk took Shuichi's hand into his own, sealing the deal. But the moment they held each other's hands, Eiri pulled Shuichi close to him and forced him against a tree. He then began to roam his mouth down Shuichi's nape and down his chest.

"Yuki? What are you doing?"

Eiri looked at him and smirked. "Well, we might not see each other for a while so we might as well do this before we go our separate ways." He undid the obi around the boy's waist and let it fall, exposing the youthful beauty of the boy's body. The kimono slipped under Shuichi's shoulders, leaving him completely naked except for the fundoshi.

"You know what to do." Eiri implied.

Shuichi hesitated for a while but eventually he nodded. After all, it had been a while since they made love and they might not get another chance. He grabbed onto the edges of the fundoshi at the sides of his waist and pulled it down, revealing the one thing that proved he was a man. Eiri stood up and admired the beautiful creature in front of him that was Shuichi. He slipped off his own robes and took off his fundoshi. Both men were now naked under the light of the moon.

They moved closer to each other and pulled themselves into a deep kiss that proved their undying love for one another. Words could not express the feelings they felt in each other's arms. Different emotions began swimming in their minds; love, compassion, desire, lust. The feelings one would get for meeting their destined other. As their lips were caught up with these feelings, their hands began roaming each other's bodies, making sure that their hands would remember the other's body no matter what.

After a while they pulled apart, staring at each other with lust. Both bodies were absorbed with pleasure as both of their manhoods grew hard. Shuichi turned around and bent over so his butt lifted up. "Please Yuki," he begged, "I'm going insane. I need you inside me right now."

Eiri didn't need to be told twice, for the moment Shuichi finished speaking, he moved his cock right inside the throbbing butt hole. Shuichi cried the moment he felt the pain of having his hole stretched, but Eiri waited until the boy was used to it. Once Shuichi had caught his breath and got used to the feeling, he gave Eiri the okay. The latter began moving himself back and forth inside Shuichi with the rhythm of their breathing. As they kept moving, Eiri leaned forward so he could kiss Shuichi's shoulder blade. It wasn't long until they both came, though Shuichi came before a few times before Eiri. They continued making love in different positions and they didn't stop until the moonlight disappeared and was replaced with sunlight.

Day had finally come. Eiri was lying on the ground on his back with Shuichi lying beside him in his arms. They looked into each other's eyes. Today was the day. They got their clothes back on and met up with the others. Hiro, Ayaka, Tatsuha, Suguru, and K were standing there with Noriko, Tetsuya, and Yama-uba beside them. Eiri and Shuichi explained the plan of Eiri going to Kyoto and why he had to go alone. But they didn't forget to add the compromise that only Ayaka was to go along with him. They could tell that she didn't want to leave the others alone, especially Hiro. But she knew her duties as the Holy Staff and that she had to serve Eiri. In the end, it was agreed that Eiri would leave with Ayaka to Kyoto. But before they could leave, Noriko stopped them.

"Wait!" she cried to them, "I'm really sorry for hurting you guys. Allow me to give you something to help you against Yuki in apology for my actions." She blew a kiss in Eiri's direction and leaves began dancing around him. The leaves were then absorbed into him. He guessed that she gave him some of her power, same as the others did.

Eiri bowed in thanks for her kindness then he looked at everyone. When his eyes gazed onto Shuichi, the latter ran into his arms. "Please promise me that we'll see each other again after you go to Kyoto." he hoped.

Eiri placed a kiss on Shuichi's temple. "Relax will you? I'm not going to fall that easily." With that said, he took the Holy Staff which held Ayaka with it and headed to Kyoto, hoping he'll learn something while he's there.

Pinkshuchan: Aww! The gang had temporarily split up for answers. It's interesting that Eiri had left home by himself with the Holy Staff and will be returning with the Holy Staff in hand. Then again, Ayaka wasn't discovered as the spirit within the staff so the return will be somewhat different. Read and Review everyone!