Strange Moments
Chichiri was the first to wake up. The fire was out, and he saw that Tasuki's arm was still around Miaka. Chichiri sighed, and got up. He walked away from the camp and teleported himself to a lake.
Miaka opened her eyes slowly. Her eyes began to hurt as the sunlight crept through her opened eyelid. The pain subsided and she felt something holding her. She turned her head to look behind her and saw Tasuki sleeping fairly close to her. She sighed to herself. She smiled and tried to wake Tasuki up. Tasuki pulled her closer to him, and Miaka felt herself blush. "Um...Tasuki. Please wake up. Tasuki."
Tasuki opened his eyes and saw that he was still holding Miaka. He blushed a fierce red, and let her go. He looked up at Miaka, thinking she would be mad at him.
"Good morning sleepy head!" Miaka smiled a wide smile. "I'm hungry! Let's go find something to eat."
Tasuki just stared at her. He pushed himself up and looked around. "Where's Chichiri?"
"I'm right here no da!" Chichiri appeared in a puff of smoke. In his right hand he was holding a fishing pool, and in the left were eight big fish. "Let's eat no da!"
"Yeah!" Miaka grabbed the fish and shoved one in her mouth. Tasuki and Chichiri grew huge sweat drops on their heads.
"Uh... you got to cook them first no da!"
Miaka stared at them and took the fish out of her mouth. "Oh yeah. Sorry, I was just so hungry!"
Tasuki started to laugh to himself. 'Same old Miaka.'
They all sat down. Tasuki lit a fire with his tessen, and Chichiri cooked the prized fish he caught. Miaka stared at them with happiness in her eyes. "This is so relaxing!"
Tasuki looked at her. "Miaka, why did ya' decide ta' return here?"
Chichiri looked up in surprise. He wanted to know too, but he decided that he would follow his plan. He wanted to keep himself entertained on their trip, and getting Miaka and Tasuki together seemed to be a good idea. He knew Miaka isn't as stupid as to take Taka back. He also knew it would make Tasuki happy. "Uh... I have to go no da."
Miaka looked up at him, and asked why?
"I have to go scope the mountains for a way out no da. I can teleport here easily no da, because I had your life force to concentrate on no da. But teleporting out of these mountains will be harder no da. Especially when I don't know our exact location no da. See ya. I'll be back."
Tasuki and Miaka watched in puzzlement as Chichiri disappeared off in the distance. "That should give them time alone," Chichiri said to himself, smiling all the way.
"You know what Tasuki, Chichiri is starting to get on my nerves with that no da habit he has." Miaka giggled to herself. She was standing up, folding the big blanket, and consumed the fish Chichiri finished cooking.
Tasuki looked at her doing the two things at once. He wanted to laugh, but he needed her to answer his question. He stood up and walked over to Miaka. "Miaka?" She looked up, and realized what he was going to ask her just by the sound in his voice. "Miaka, why did ya' come back here."
Miaka looked at Tasuki. "Why...why do you want to know?"
"Miaka just answer my question." Tasuki was looking at her seriously.
Miaka looked at the ground and told Tasuki the story of what happened. Of how she was thinking about him and the others, and of how Taka cheated on her. She wanted to escape her worries.
Tasuki looked at her. Miaka was beginning to cry. Tasuki wanted to make sure that it was Taka who caused her pain. Inside though, he was a little happy that Taka cheated on her. If he hadn't, then Miaka would have never returned, and he would still be in his room. He walked up to the sobbing girl, and hugged her. He lifted her face and wiped her wet cheeks dry.
Miaka looked at Tasuki. Her eyes were wide and looked so innocent. "Tasuki...thanks for caring."
She wrapped her arms around his back, and put her head against his chest. She boosted herself up and kissed Tasuki on his cheek. She backed down and released him. Miaka picked up the blanket and started to fold it again. Tasuki stood there and stared at her the whole time. He decided to break the stare and went to go sit down by the rocks to think to himself.
'Miaka... why do ya' remain with Taka? Even though he makes ya' cry all the time...I know ya' still love him... why? SHIT! I won't allow it!' He sat there for a few hours, every few minutes looking back at Miaka. He lost his train of thought when he saw her approach him.
"Tasuki...?"
Tasuki stared up at Miaka. "What?"
"It's been a long time since Chichiri left. Shouldn't we go look for him?"
"No... I think it's best if we stay here."
"Oh... I guess... Ummm...I need to find a lake." Miaka felt a little shy asking Tasuki where a lake was.
"Why?"
"Well being here in the mountain can get really dirty. I need to clean myself."
Tasuki blushed. He tried not to imagine Miaka naked, but his mind took over. Her perfect figure filled his mind. Miaka stared at him and began to giggle. Tasuki realized that he was blushing and turned away.
Chichiri returned and saw Miaka giggling at Tasuki who had his back turned away from her. He smiled when he noticed Tasuki's red face. "I'm back no da!"
"Hi Chichiri. Your finally back." Miaka ran up to the masked covered monk. " Uh...Chichiri?"
Chichiri looked at her and smiled. "What do you want Miaka?"
"Do you know where a small lake is so that I can clean myself?" Miaka looked back at Tasuki and saw him blush some more. Chichiri saw the same thing. He smiled a bigger smile.
"Sure no da. We should all take a bath no da."
"Great!" Miaka ran over to Tasuki and grabbed his arm. She pulled him up and dragged him over to Chichiri. Miaka picked up her bag and swung it over her back. "Ok! Let's go!"
Tasuki and Chichiri looked at her. They couldn't understand why she was excited. 'It must be one of those girl things no da.' Chichiri told them to hold his staff. He teleported them to the same lake where he caught his fish.
The lake was clear and tranquil. Many small fish were swimming in the shallow waters. Willow trees hung over some of the edges of the lake. It was wonderful scenery. "Oh! It looks so pretty here!" Miaka ran over to the lake and put her feet in the cool refreshing waters. "Uh... how are we gonna do this. We can't take a bath together." Miaka had to giggle.
Tasuki stared at her, then at the water. Fear rushed through his body. "Um... I rather not take a bath."
Miaka and Chichiri looked at him questionably. After a few moments of silence, Miaka broke out in laughter and Chichiri grew a sly smile. They remembered that Tasuki couldn't swim. "Oh come on Tasuki. You need to get cleaned up. You look filthy and don't worry, the water is pretty shallow!" Miaka tried not to laugh again, but she couldn't hold it back.
"Oh shud-up and stop fuckin teasing me!" Tasuki turned his back away from the laughing Miaka and smiling Chichiri. Tasuki grew a bright hue of red.
"Don't worry Tasuki! I'll make sure you don't drown no da!" Chichiri was now standing in front of Tasuki. "I'll move the willow vines and leaves to split part of the lake into two sides and make a wall with them no da! We'll take a bath on one side and Miaka on the other." Chichiri smiled. "Miaka won't see us, and we won't see her no da. I promise!"
Tasuki and Miaka looked at Chichiri with a slight nervousness. It grew silent with Chichiri still smiling. Miaka looked down on herself, and saw that she was filthy. She had to take a bath, so she broke the silence. "Alright! Go ahead Chichiri. Divide the lake with the vines to make a wall."
Chichiri did just that. He closed his eyes and mumbled a small chant to himself. Tasuki and Miaka watched in wonder as the trees leaned closer into the lake. Most of the willow vines and leaves tightened together so you couldn't see through them, but of course there were small slight holes here and there. The tree stopped moving inward into the lake. The vines reached as far as they could, and dangled back and forth. It looked like a solid thin blanket. "Ok I'm done no da. Miaka you go on that side and take a bath, and we'll be on this side."
Tasuki looked at the dangling vines. He wasn't sure that that was a good enough wall.
"Don't worry no da! Even though the leaves on the vines are thin, you can't see nothing but shadows no da!" Chichiri knew it would be easier and better to just create a wall from the rocks and solid objects around the lake. But, it seemed to be part of his plan to build it out of thin vines.
Tasuki looked at Miaka. She was already walking to her side of the vine wall. He averted his eyes, and felt a strong grip grab his arm. Tasuki turned around and saw Chichiri dragging him to the opposite side.
"Lemme go damn it!" Tasuki looked at the water. Fear surged through his body. "Come on! Let go! Shit! I prefer ta' take baths in waters that look.... safe!"
"Safe?" Chichiri looked at him for a while, then smiled. "Come on Tasuki, you got to get clean for Miaka no da!"
Tasuki began to blush. "Oh shud-up!" Before he could say another word, Chichiri snapped his fingers, and Tasuki ended up in the shallow water without his clothes. "HEY!! What did ya' do with my clothes!" Chichiri pointed to a high branch. Tasuki looked up and saw his jerkin and belongings folded on the limb. "Damn it Chichiri! Ya' bastard! This water is also fuckin cold!" Tasuki stopped complaining when he heard a small giggle. Miaka was laughing at his complaining. He looked to his left, towards the vine wall, and saw a shadow of a girl step into the lake. Miaka's shadowy figure on the wall showed the perfect figure of her body. Tasuki began to blush and turned away. He sat in the cold water shivering. His blushing nearly heated him up.
"What's wrong no da!" Chichiri stared at Tasuki with a big sly smile. He knew Tasuki would see Miaka's shadow. His plan was working.
"Nu.... nuthin damn it!" Tasuki began to turn red, that is if he could turn any redder than he already was. Tasuki grabbed the perfumed soap that Miaka gave to them from her bag, and started to cleanse himself.
Chichiri was the first to wake up. The fire was out, and he saw that Tasuki's arm was still around Miaka. Chichiri sighed, and got up. He walked away from the camp and teleported himself to a lake.
Miaka opened her eyes slowly. Her eyes began to hurt as the sunlight crept through her opened eyelid. The pain subsided and she felt something holding her. She turned her head to look behind her and saw Tasuki sleeping fairly close to her. She sighed to herself. She smiled and tried to wake Tasuki up. Tasuki pulled her closer to him, and Miaka felt herself blush. "Um...Tasuki. Please wake up. Tasuki."
Tasuki opened his eyes and saw that he was still holding Miaka. He blushed a fierce red, and let her go. He looked up at Miaka, thinking she would be mad at him.
"Good morning sleepy head!" Miaka smiled a wide smile. "I'm hungry! Let's go find something to eat."
Tasuki just stared at her. He pushed himself up and looked around. "Where's Chichiri?"
"I'm right here no da!" Chichiri appeared in a puff of smoke. In his right hand he was holding a fishing pool, and in the left were eight big fish. "Let's eat no da!"
"Yeah!" Miaka grabbed the fish and shoved one in her mouth. Tasuki and Chichiri grew huge sweat drops on their heads.
"Uh... you got to cook them first no da!"
Miaka stared at them and took the fish out of her mouth. "Oh yeah. Sorry, I was just so hungry!"
Tasuki started to laugh to himself. 'Same old Miaka.'
They all sat down. Tasuki lit a fire with his tessen, and Chichiri cooked the prized fish he caught. Miaka stared at them with happiness in her eyes. "This is so relaxing!"
Tasuki looked at her. "Miaka, why did ya' decide ta' return here?"
Chichiri looked up in surprise. He wanted to know too, but he decided that he would follow his plan. He wanted to keep himself entertained on their trip, and getting Miaka and Tasuki together seemed to be a good idea. He knew Miaka isn't as stupid as to take Taka back. He also knew it would make Tasuki happy. "Uh... I have to go no da."
Miaka looked up at him, and asked why?
"I have to go scope the mountains for a way out no da. I can teleport here easily no da, because I had your life force to concentrate on no da. But teleporting out of these mountains will be harder no da. Especially when I don't know our exact location no da. See ya. I'll be back."
Tasuki and Miaka watched in puzzlement as Chichiri disappeared off in the distance. "That should give them time alone," Chichiri said to himself, smiling all the way.
"You know what Tasuki, Chichiri is starting to get on my nerves with that no da habit he has." Miaka giggled to herself. She was standing up, folding the big blanket, and consumed the fish Chichiri finished cooking.
Tasuki looked at her doing the two things at once. He wanted to laugh, but he needed her to answer his question. He stood up and walked over to Miaka. "Miaka?" She looked up, and realized what he was going to ask her just by the sound in his voice. "Miaka, why did ya' come back here."
Miaka looked at Tasuki. "Why...why do you want to know?"
"Miaka just answer my question." Tasuki was looking at her seriously.
Miaka looked at the ground and told Tasuki the story of what happened. Of how she was thinking about him and the others, and of how Taka cheated on her. She wanted to escape her worries.
Tasuki looked at her. Miaka was beginning to cry. Tasuki wanted to make sure that it was Taka who caused her pain. Inside though, he was a little happy that Taka cheated on her. If he hadn't, then Miaka would have never returned, and he would still be in his room. He walked up to the sobbing girl, and hugged her. He lifted her face and wiped her wet cheeks dry.
Miaka looked at Tasuki. Her eyes were wide and looked so innocent. "Tasuki...thanks for caring."
She wrapped her arms around his back, and put her head against his chest. She boosted herself up and kissed Tasuki on his cheek. She backed down and released him. Miaka picked up the blanket and started to fold it again. Tasuki stood there and stared at her the whole time. He decided to break the stare and went to go sit down by the rocks to think to himself.
'Miaka... why do ya' remain with Taka? Even though he makes ya' cry all the time...I know ya' still love him... why? SHIT! I won't allow it!' He sat there for a few hours, every few minutes looking back at Miaka. He lost his train of thought when he saw her approach him.
"Tasuki...?"
Tasuki stared up at Miaka. "What?"
"It's been a long time since Chichiri left. Shouldn't we go look for him?"
"No... I think it's best if we stay here."
"Oh... I guess... Ummm...I need to find a lake." Miaka felt a little shy asking Tasuki where a lake was.
"Why?"
"Well being here in the mountain can get really dirty. I need to clean myself."
Tasuki blushed. He tried not to imagine Miaka naked, but his mind took over. Her perfect figure filled his mind. Miaka stared at him and began to giggle. Tasuki realized that he was blushing and turned away.
Chichiri returned and saw Miaka giggling at Tasuki who had his back turned away from her. He smiled when he noticed Tasuki's red face. "I'm back no da!"
"Hi Chichiri. Your finally back." Miaka ran up to the masked covered monk. " Uh...Chichiri?"
Chichiri looked at her and smiled. "What do you want Miaka?"
"Do you know where a small lake is so that I can clean myself?" Miaka looked back at Tasuki and saw him blush some more. Chichiri saw the same thing. He smiled a bigger smile.
"Sure no da. We should all take a bath no da."
"Great!" Miaka ran over to Tasuki and grabbed his arm. She pulled him up and dragged him over to Chichiri. Miaka picked up her bag and swung it over her back. "Ok! Let's go!"
Tasuki and Chichiri looked at her. They couldn't understand why she was excited. 'It must be one of those girl things no da.' Chichiri told them to hold his staff. He teleported them to the same lake where he caught his fish.
The lake was clear and tranquil. Many small fish were swimming in the shallow waters. Willow trees hung over some of the edges of the lake. It was wonderful scenery. "Oh! It looks so pretty here!" Miaka ran over to the lake and put her feet in the cool refreshing waters. "Uh... how are we gonna do this. We can't take a bath together." Miaka had to giggle.
Tasuki stared at her, then at the water. Fear rushed through his body. "Um... I rather not take a bath."
Miaka and Chichiri looked at him questionably. After a few moments of silence, Miaka broke out in laughter and Chichiri grew a sly smile. They remembered that Tasuki couldn't swim. "Oh come on Tasuki. You need to get cleaned up. You look filthy and don't worry, the water is pretty shallow!" Miaka tried not to laugh again, but she couldn't hold it back.
"Oh shud-up and stop fuckin teasing me!" Tasuki turned his back away from the laughing Miaka and smiling Chichiri. Tasuki grew a bright hue of red.
"Don't worry Tasuki! I'll make sure you don't drown no da!" Chichiri was now standing in front of Tasuki. "I'll move the willow vines and leaves to split part of the lake into two sides and make a wall with them no da! We'll take a bath on one side and Miaka on the other." Chichiri smiled. "Miaka won't see us, and we won't see her no da. I promise!"
Tasuki and Miaka looked at Chichiri with a slight nervousness. It grew silent with Chichiri still smiling. Miaka looked down on herself, and saw that she was filthy. She had to take a bath, so she broke the silence. "Alright! Go ahead Chichiri. Divide the lake with the vines to make a wall."
Chichiri did just that. He closed his eyes and mumbled a small chant to himself. Tasuki and Miaka watched in wonder as the trees leaned closer into the lake. Most of the willow vines and leaves tightened together so you couldn't see through them, but of course there were small slight holes here and there. The tree stopped moving inward into the lake. The vines reached as far as they could, and dangled back and forth. It looked like a solid thin blanket. "Ok I'm done no da. Miaka you go on that side and take a bath, and we'll be on this side."
Tasuki looked at the dangling vines. He wasn't sure that that was a good enough wall.
"Don't worry no da! Even though the leaves on the vines are thin, you can't see nothing but shadows no da!" Chichiri knew it would be easier and better to just create a wall from the rocks and solid objects around the lake. But, it seemed to be part of his plan to build it out of thin vines.
Tasuki looked at Miaka. She was already walking to her side of the vine wall. He averted his eyes, and felt a strong grip grab his arm. Tasuki turned around and saw Chichiri dragging him to the opposite side.
"Lemme go damn it!" Tasuki looked at the water. Fear surged through his body. "Come on! Let go! Shit! I prefer ta' take baths in waters that look.... safe!"
"Safe?" Chichiri looked at him for a while, then smiled. "Come on Tasuki, you got to get clean for Miaka no da!"
Tasuki began to blush. "Oh shud-up!" Before he could say another word, Chichiri snapped his fingers, and Tasuki ended up in the shallow water without his clothes. "HEY!! What did ya' do with my clothes!" Chichiri pointed to a high branch. Tasuki looked up and saw his jerkin and belongings folded on the limb. "Damn it Chichiri! Ya' bastard! This water is also fuckin cold!" Tasuki stopped complaining when he heard a small giggle. Miaka was laughing at his complaining. He looked to his left, towards the vine wall, and saw a shadow of a girl step into the lake. Miaka's shadowy figure on the wall showed the perfect figure of her body. Tasuki began to blush and turned away. He sat in the cold water shivering. His blushing nearly heated him up.
"What's wrong no da!" Chichiri stared at Tasuki with a big sly smile. He knew Tasuki would see Miaka's shadow. His plan was working.
"Nu.... nuthin damn it!" Tasuki began to turn red, that is if he could turn any redder than he already was. Tasuki grabbed the perfumed soap that Miaka gave to them from her bag, and started to cleanse himself.