Swimming Lessons

Chapter Three

By Lady Firebird

Tasuki groaned and took another step up the stairs that led to the house on the mountain. Why did Taiiskun have to live so far up the mountain? Even Chichiri was having a difficult time breathing. But the top was in sight, and soon they reached their goal. Pink bubbles appeared out of nowhere, and surrounded the two men. The bubbles popped to reveal several Nyan-nyans.

"Welcome! Welcome! We're glad that you have come! Taiiskun's waiting! Come with us! She has a surprise. She really wanted you to come here, and you did! She knows everything!" The Nyan-nyan's were talking, giggling, and pushing Tasuki and Chichiri towards Taiiskun's chamber.

"Greetings Chichiri, and Tasuki. I'm glad that you have come. I need your help." Taiiskun was as dry as ever Tasuki reflected. "I need you to do several things for me, and they all require you to spend a few months here, if you don't mind."

"Not at all Taiiskun. We can stay for however long you need us here." Chichiri said in his un-masked voice. Tasuki looked over, and saw that Chichiri had taken off his mask. It was probably because he was with people he knew wouldn't be hurt by the sight of his scar. Tasuki felt proud to be considered one of those people.

"The first thing that I need is protection for the Nyan-nyan's. The protections on this mountain are not as strong as they once were, and some bandits have come snooping. They were after the Nyan-nyan's and the powers that I have given them." Taiiskun said.

"Please protect us! We'll be good!"

"We don't want to go with the ugly men. We want to stay with our ugly Taiiskun!"

"I heard that." Taiiskun muttered.

"Of course we'll protect you!" Tasuki said, reaching down to hug one of the little ones. "We couldn't let anything happen to you!"

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Tasuki was rewarded by a very large group hug. Chichiri smiled at the sight, and the expression on Tasuki's face.

"What is the other thing that you have for us to do?" Chichiri asked, turning back to his mentor.

"There is someone else that needs the protection of Susaku warriors. You can come out now." Taiiskun said to the shadow near the door.

"Hey guys, I'm very happy to see you again!" Miaka said as she came out of the corner. She then found her self squished in the middle of a very tight hug.

"Miaka, when did you get back, why did you come back?" Tasuki asked, pulling out of the hug.

"I got here a few weeks ago. And I'm the one that needs to request the last bit of help. Tamahome and I are going to have a baby. I'm pregnant, and I'd like to have my baby in this world, under the care of Susaku. But whenever I'm in this world I seem to get attacked, and that would hurt the baby. Would you two protect us?" Miaka asked her two senchi.

"We would be honored to serve the priestess of Susaku once again. I can't believe that you're pregnant! Wait, where's Tamahome?" Chichiri asked with a worried expression on his face.

"He's back in my world. He's set on providing for me, and our baby. Ever since we got married, he's been working nonstop. It's sweet though, and I don't mind. He'll be coming here right before the baby's born, so that he can help." Miaka smiled and rolled her eyes. The Nyan-nyan's giggled as a group.

"Thank you Tasuki and Chichiri, for helping us. But, as to your question. I cannot tell you what to do with your lives. You two have to work that out on you own. I hope though, that you can figure out what you're suppose to do on your own while you're here." Taiiskun floated up from her sitting position as said, "Nyan-nyan, show the two warriors where they are to sleep." She floated out of the room with Miaka following her.

Chichiri and Tasuki followed the hoard of little girls to a room on the outside wall of the house. They had a view of the gardens.

"This is where you'll sleep. Miaka sleeps right over there. We sleep near Taiiskun. She snores." With that the girls ran out of the room giggling like mad again.

"Chichiri, do you notice anything wrong with this room?" Tasuki said looking around.

"No Tasuki, it's fine. Why?" Chichiri answered.

"Well there's only one bed. Is Taiiskun planning on a lot of visitors soon?" Tasuki pointed at the very large bed in the corner.

"I don't think so. But we can't mention it to her. It's probably a test of some kind to see how well we work together. She'll be annoyed if we say anything." Chichiri said. "Besides the bed is big enough. We'll share, and there'll be no problems." Chichiri added. While thinking, 'I hope that I'm able to keep my hands off of him while we're here.'

Tasuki was echoing his thoughts. And in another corner of the house a creator, a priestess, and a hoard of little girls plotted.