Confusion
After the wondrous feast from Miaka's world, everyone settled down for the night. Chichiri had his cape, and Miaka and Tasuki shared the same blanket. "Tomorrow we'll go to town and sleep at a nice inn no da." Chichiri looked at the cute couple under the blanket. Tasuki had his back turned from Miaka. He wanted to put his arm around her again, but he grew to tired. Tasuki fell asleep before she did.
"Chichiri.... Can I ask you something?" Miaka asked a little shyly.
"Sure no da! What is it?" Chichiri lifted his head with the palm of his hand, and had his elbow on the ground.
"Is it...is it wrong to love two people?" Miaka stared at Tasuki, who was now in a deep sleep.
Chichiri looked at her. "It depends on the type of love no da."
"Don't worry about it. We can talk in the morning." With that said, Miaka turned around and eventually fell asleep.
Chichiri, understanding what Miaka was getting at, tried to think of an answer. He soon gave up and fell asleep too.
"YOU BASTARED!"
Miaka stirred in her sleep. 'Huh?'
"Lemme go!" Tasuki shouted
"I'll teach you!"
"Taka! Your such a shithead!"
Miaka's eyes jerked open. 'TAKA!' Miaka pushed herself up and turned her head. It was still quite dark out, but she could see Taka and Tasuki fighting. Taka threw a few punches at Tasuki, but Tasuki was quick and dodged most of them and threw a few strong punches of his own. Taka lost his balance and fell to the ground, but not before he threw a finishing hit towards Tasuki that sent the red head hard against a tree. "TAKA! What are you doing!" Miaka had an angered look on her face. Taka and Tasuki turned their heads toward her. Chichiri, who had somehow managed to stay asleep during the fight, woke.
"Why are you sleeping with him?" Taka got up off the ground while pointing at Tasuki.
"What are you talking about! I'm not sleeping, sleeping with him. We only have one blanket, and if you haven't noticed, it's cold out!" Miaka was now standing. She walked over to Tasuki, who was leaning against the tree, holding his arm.
Tasuki looked at Taka with an angered glare. "I tried ta' tell ya'! But your damn mind won't listen ya' cheatin' bastared!"
Taka looked at him angrily, then at Miaka who was helping Tasuki regain his balance. "Miaka...I came here to tell you...to tell you about that kiss.... I..."
"I don't want to hear it Taka!" Miaka broke out in tears. She tried to stop but all seemed to fail. Then Tasuki wrapped his arms around Miaka's shoulders, and pulled her close to him. Her wet eyes burst open in surprise.
Taka watched as Tasuki held Miaka. "Tasuki! Let go of her!"
"Ya' dumb ass! Why! Why do ya' always make Miaka cry?" Tasuki held the weeping Miko closer. 'She deserves better.'
"Hold on no da! Lets just sit and talk a minute. I'm sure we can settle things easier no da." Chichiri watched the two fighters exchange evil glares.
Miaka slowly pushed herself away from Tasuki. "Chichiri is right. We'll discuss it in the morning." She walked slowly back towards the lonely blanket. "I'm to tired," Miaka said weakly. "Let's get some sleep."
Tasuki's eyes followed her the whole time. 'Miaka...' He sighed, and walked over to the dead campfire. He picked up his tessen, which has been lying next to the blanket that Miaka was now in, and started another fire. He looked over at his Miko, who had her back turned from everyone. "Alright Miaka. Ya' sleep tight. I'll be warm by the fire."
Chichiri cloaked himself with his cape the second time that night, and fell into another deep sleep.
Taka placed himself next to the now blazing fire, on the opposite side from Tasuki. He fell towards the ground, and looked over at Miaka. 'Miaka.... I hope you still love me.' He turned on his back and forced himself to sleep.
Tasuki just sat there looking into the fire. 'I can't...I won't lose Miaka to him.' He placed himself on the ground just as Taka did, and fell asleep.
Miaka stayed awake the longest. Her eyes weren't opened, but her mind raced with many thoughts and questions. The last word that crossed her mind was 'Tasuki....'
Yui looked down upon the page of the Universe of the Four Gods. The story was getting so interesting. "It's almost like a soap opera." Yui tried not to giggle at the serious matter, but did anyways and continued reading. Her eyes widened with the next passage upon the page. 'A dark figure watched the fight scene with amusement. All was going to plan. "Soon," he said to himself. "Soon the power of the Gods shall be mine. Now I just need one more piece to be complete." The dark figure looked to the sky and...' A blue light arose from the book. Yui forced herself up. 'Why blue! I thought Seiryu was sealed for...' Yui vanished.
The next morning Tasuki felt like he had a major hangover from drinking, even though he hadn't had a drink in a long time. He rolled over to lie on his side. His eyes stared at the lake. To his somewhat surprise, he saw that Miaka and Taka were sitting on the bank talking. He felt disgusted by looking at the Tamahome look alike. He sat up and turned away from the two.
Chichiri was sitting next to the cindering wood. He was eating another chocolate bar. "Good morning Tasuki."
Tasuki stared at him. He cast his eyes downward. "Mornin' Chichiri. It ain't a damn good mornin' though." Tasuki looked over at the couple by the lake. "When the hell did they wake up?"
"Like an hour ago no da." Chichiri took another chunk from the chocolate bar. "Don't worry no da. Miaka isn't really into his story no da." He looked over at Tasuki and smiled.
Tasuki saw the facial expression on Chichiri's face. He blushed and turned his face to the sky. "I don't know what ya' talking about. Why would I worry?" He heard footsteps and turned to look. It was Miaka and Taka. "So what did the ass have ta' say Miaka."
"Shut-up Tasuki! Before I kick your ass!" Taka raised his fist.
"Stop it Taka! You leave Tasuki alone." Miaka walked over and sat by Chichiri. "Chichiri...sometime today can we talk alone." She looked over at the chocolate crazed seishi.
"Sure no da! We can talk when were in town today no da!" He put a smile on his face. "Cheer up Miaka. Soon everything will be all right no da."
Yui found herself in a back ally of some town. 'This seems all too familiar.' Yui began to remember the time the two men attached her in an alley in Kutuo. Yui ran as fast as she could to find an open area of crowded people. 'I wonder where I am. I know I'm in the book, but where...and why?' She walked around the town for hours it seemed. She walked into a nearby inn.
"Can I help you?" the innkeeper asked.
"Um...not now." Yui walked over to an empty chair. "I'm waiting for someone," Yui lied. 'I wonder if Miaka will find me.' Yui sat in the chair. After a few lonely moments, she saw Tasuki enter.
Miaka and her group walked away from camp, and headed off to town. It was a very quiet journey. Miaka strode in front of everyone with Chichiri, while Tasuki and Taka stayed separated behind them. "Chichiri...I'm hungry." Miaka held her stomach weakly.
"Don't worry no da. The town is up ahead."
"Ya' said that a bloody hour ago!" Tasuki was starting to stumble over his own feet. He was tired and hungry, and so was Taka.
"Just look no da." Chichiri pointed to the horizon. "The town is just ahead."
Tasuki, Miaka, and Taka could see the many houses and huts. They saw little specks of people walking back and forth going on with their daily lives. "HURRAY! Now we can eat." Miaka went at a running pace towards the big town. After thirty minutes or so, after everyone caught up with Miaka, they were all standing at the town's entrance. Miaka gave a big smile and grabbed Taka's arm. "Come on Taka! Let's go get something to eat. I'm so famished." Miaka realized that she was forgiving Taka a little more with each passing moment. She gave him a big hug.
Tasuki, seeing Miaka hug Taka, realized that she was forgiving 'The Cheater'. He couldn't stand it anymore. He had to get away. "Well, I'm gonna go look fer' an inn. Ya' guys have fun. Bring me back somethin' ta' eat." Everyone turned and looked at him. Before anyone could say anything, he turned his back and walked away.
"I don't understand her. Why the hell would she forgive him and trust him? This ain't the first time he fuckin cheated and broke her heart." Tasuki walked into the only inn he could find, and he walked up to the counter. "How many rooms ya' got?"
"TASUKI!"
Tasuki, a little startled, turned to see how called his name. Yui was standing in front of a chair, clasping her hands. "Hey, ain't ya' Miaka's friend. What's her name...Yui?"
"Oh gosh! You don't know how glad I am to see you!"
Tasuki stared at the happy blonde head. "Did you come into our world with Miaka?"
Yui walked up to him. "Actually no. It's a long story. I'll tell you about it. But first, isn't Miaka supposed to be with you?"
Tasuki cast a small frown on his face. "No, she and the other two are out eating."
Yui looked at him puzzlingly. "Other two? Oh! You mean Chichiri and T...Taka." Yui went silent for a second. "I'm sorry Tasuki."
Tasuki looked at her. "What do ya' mean ya' sorry?"
"I know how much Miaka means to you."
Tasuki looked at her shockingly. "W...what do ya' mean?"
"I'll tell you later. Is it all right if I stay with you? I hate being by myself in this world."
"Um...sure. I know Miaka will be happy to see ya'." Tasuki turned around to face the now confused innkeeper. "How many people per room?"
"Um...two. Two people per room sir," the innkeeper told him.
"Alright, we'll take three." Tasuki thought about it in his head, 'one fer' Miaka and Yui, Chichiri and the cheater, and one fer' me'. Tasuki knew that he didn't want to share a room with Taka, and knew that he wanted to be alone tonight. "Come on Yui! Let's go look fer' the others."
Yui nodded her head yes. They walked out of the inn, leaving the innkeeper still quit confused about his costumer's conversation.
After the wondrous feast from Miaka's world, everyone settled down for the night. Chichiri had his cape, and Miaka and Tasuki shared the same blanket. "Tomorrow we'll go to town and sleep at a nice inn no da." Chichiri looked at the cute couple under the blanket. Tasuki had his back turned from Miaka. He wanted to put his arm around her again, but he grew to tired. Tasuki fell asleep before she did.
"Chichiri.... Can I ask you something?" Miaka asked a little shyly.
"Sure no da! What is it?" Chichiri lifted his head with the palm of his hand, and had his elbow on the ground.
"Is it...is it wrong to love two people?" Miaka stared at Tasuki, who was now in a deep sleep.
Chichiri looked at her. "It depends on the type of love no da."
"Don't worry about it. We can talk in the morning." With that said, Miaka turned around and eventually fell asleep.
Chichiri, understanding what Miaka was getting at, tried to think of an answer. He soon gave up and fell asleep too.
"YOU BASTARED!"
Miaka stirred in her sleep. 'Huh?'
"Lemme go!" Tasuki shouted
"I'll teach you!"
"Taka! Your such a shithead!"
Miaka's eyes jerked open. 'TAKA!' Miaka pushed herself up and turned her head. It was still quite dark out, but she could see Taka and Tasuki fighting. Taka threw a few punches at Tasuki, but Tasuki was quick and dodged most of them and threw a few strong punches of his own. Taka lost his balance and fell to the ground, but not before he threw a finishing hit towards Tasuki that sent the red head hard against a tree. "TAKA! What are you doing!" Miaka had an angered look on her face. Taka and Tasuki turned their heads toward her. Chichiri, who had somehow managed to stay asleep during the fight, woke.
"Why are you sleeping with him?" Taka got up off the ground while pointing at Tasuki.
"What are you talking about! I'm not sleeping, sleeping with him. We only have one blanket, and if you haven't noticed, it's cold out!" Miaka was now standing. She walked over to Tasuki, who was leaning against the tree, holding his arm.
Tasuki looked at Taka with an angered glare. "I tried ta' tell ya'! But your damn mind won't listen ya' cheatin' bastared!"
Taka looked at him angrily, then at Miaka who was helping Tasuki regain his balance. "Miaka...I came here to tell you...to tell you about that kiss.... I..."
"I don't want to hear it Taka!" Miaka broke out in tears. She tried to stop but all seemed to fail. Then Tasuki wrapped his arms around Miaka's shoulders, and pulled her close to him. Her wet eyes burst open in surprise.
Taka watched as Tasuki held Miaka. "Tasuki! Let go of her!"
"Ya' dumb ass! Why! Why do ya' always make Miaka cry?" Tasuki held the weeping Miko closer. 'She deserves better.'
"Hold on no da! Lets just sit and talk a minute. I'm sure we can settle things easier no da." Chichiri watched the two fighters exchange evil glares.
Miaka slowly pushed herself away from Tasuki. "Chichiri is right. We'll discuss it in the morning." She walked slowly back towards the lonely blanket. "I'm to tired," Miaka said weakly. "Let's get some sleep."
Tasuki's eyes followed her the whole time. 'Miaka...' He sighed, and walked over to the dead campfire. He picked up his tessen, which has been lying next to the blanket that Miaka was now in, and started another fire. He looked over at his Miko, who had her back turned from everyone. "Alright Miaka. Ya' sleep tight. I'll be warm by the fire."
Chichiri cloaked himself with his cape the second time that night, and fell into another deep sleep.
Taka placed himself next to the now blazing fire, on the opposite side from Tasuki. He fell towards the ground, and looked over at Miaka. 'Miaka.... I hope you still love me.' He turned on his back and forced himself to sleep.
Tasuki just sat there looking into the fire. 'I can't...I won't lose Miaka to him.' He placed himself on the ground just as Taka did, and fell asleep.
Miaka stayed awake the longest. Her eyes weren't opened, but her mind raced with many thoughts and questions. The last word that crossed her mind was 'Tasuki....'
Yui looked down upon the page of the Universe of the Four Gods. The story was getting so interesting. "It's almost like a soap opera." Yui tried not to giggle at the serious matter, but did anyways and continued reading. Her eyes widened with the next passage upon the page. 'A dark figure watched the fight scene with amusement. All was going to plan. "Soon," he said to himself. "Soon the power of the Gods shall be mine. Now I just need one more piece to be complete." The dark figure looked to the sky and...' A blue light arose from the book. Yui forced herself up. 'Why blue! I thought Seiryu was sealed for...' Yui vanished.
The next morning Tasuki felt like he had a major hangover from drinking, even though he hadn't had a drink in a long time. He rolled over to lie on his side. His eyes stared at the lake. To his somewhat surprise, he saw that Miaka and Taka were sitting on the bank talking. He felt disgusted by looking at the Tamahome look alike. He sat up and turned away from the two.
Chichiri was sitting next to the cindering wood. He was eating another chocolate bar. "Good morning Tasuki."
Tasuki stared at him. He cast his eyes downward. "Mornin' Chichiri. It ain't a damn good mornin' though." Tasuki looked over at the couple by the lake. "When the hell did they wake up?"
"Like an hour ago no da." Chichiri took another chunk from the chocolate bar. "Don't worry no da. Miaka isn't really into his story no da." He looked over at Tasuki and smiled.
Tasuki saw the facial expression on Chichiri's face. He blushed and turned his face to the sky. "I don't know what ya' talking about. Why would I worry?" He heard footsteps and turned to look. It was Miaka and Taka. "So what did the ass have ta' say Miaka."
"Shut-up Tasuki! Before I kick your ass!" Taka raised his fist.
"Stop it Taka! You leave Tasuki alone." Miaka walked over and sat by Chichiri. "Chichiri...sometime today can we talk alone." She looked over at the chocolate crazed seishi.
"Sure no da! We can talk when were in town today no da!" He put a smile on his face. "Cheer up Miaka. Soon everything will be all right no da."
Yui found herself in a back ally of some town. 'This seems all too familiar.' Yui began to remember the time the two men attached her in an alley in Kutuo. Yui ran as fast as she could to find an open area of crowded people. 'I wonder where I am. I know I'm in the book, but where...and why?' She walked around the town for hours it seemed. She walked into a nearby inn.
"Can I help you?" the innkeeper asked.
"Um...not now." Yui walked over to an empty chair. "I'm waiting for someone," Yui lied. 'I wonder if Miaka will find me.' Yui sat in the chair. After a few lonely moments, she saw Tasuki enter.
Miaka and her group walked away from camp, and headed off to town. It was a very quiet journey. Miaka strode in front of everyone with Chichiri, while Tasuki and Taka stayed separated behind them. "Chichiri...I'm hungry." Miaka held her stomach weakly.
"Don't worry no da. The town is up ahead."
"Ya' said that a bloody hour ago!" Tasuki was starting to stumble over his own feet. He was tired and hungry, and so was Taka.
"Just look no da." Chichiri pointed to the horizon. "The town is just ahead."
Tasuki, Miaka, and Taka could see the many houses and huts. They saw little specks of people walking back and forth going on with their daily lives. "HURRAY! Now we can eat." Miaka went at a running pace towards the big town. After thirty minutes or so, after everyone caught up with Miaka, they were all standing at the town's entrance. Miaka gave a big smile and grabbed Taka's arm. "Come on Taka! Let's go get something to eat. I'm so famished." Miaka realized that she was forgiving Taka a little more with each passing moment. She gave him a big hug.
Tasuki, seeing Miaka hug Taka, realized that she was forgiving 'The Cheater'. He couldn't stand it anymore. He had to get away. "Well, I'm gonna go look fer' an inn. Ya' guys have fun. Bring me back somethin' ta' eat." Everyone turned and looked at him. Before anyone could say anything, he turned his back and walked away.
"I don't understand her. Why the hell would she forgive him and trust him? This ain't the first time he fuckin cheated and broke her heart." Tasuki walked into the only inn he could find, and he walked up to the counter. "How many rooms ya' got?"
"TASUKI!"
Tasuki, a little startled, turned to see how called his name. Yui was standing in front of a chair, clasping her hands. "Hey, ain't ya' Miaka's friend. What's her name...Yui?"
"Oh gosh! You don't know how glad I am to see you!"
Tasuki stared at the happy blonde head. "Did you come into our world with Miaka?"
Yui walked up to him. "Actually no. It's a long story. I'll tell you about it. But first, isn't Miaka supposed to be with you?"
Tasuki cast a small frown on his face. "No, she and the other two are out eating."
Yui looked at him puzzlingly. "Other two? Oh! You mean Chichiri and T...Taka." Yui went silent for a second. "I'm sorry Tasuki."
Tasuki looked at her. "What do ya' mean ya' sorry?"
"I know how much Miaka means to you."
Tasuki looked at her shockingly. "W...what do ya' mean?"
"I'll tell you later. Is it all right if I stay with you? I hate being by myself in this world."
"Um...sure. I know Miaka will be happy to see ya'." Tasuki turned around to face the now confused innkeeper. "How many people per room?"
"Um...two. Two people per room sir," the innkeeper told him.
"Alright, we'll take three." Tasuki thought about it in his head, 'one fer' Miaka and Yui, Chichiri and the cheater, and one fer' me'. Tasuki knew that he didn't want to share a room with Taka, and knew that he wanted to be alone tonight. "Come on Yui! Let's go look fer' the others."
Yui nodded her head yes. They walked out of the inn, leaving the innkeeper still quit confused about his costumer's conversation.