Running Away

Chapter 6

Chichiri was grateful when they finally left the inn and began their way back on the dirt road. The inn just didn't… feel right. Of course, he had been sure to thank the old inn-keeper kindly, as they had provided them with a place to stay…

Tasuki was walking on ahead of him. It was strange… Tasuki was usually so talkative, always doing something. But today, his head hung down and he was oddly quiet. It looked like he was almost about to cry.

Chichiri decided to ask him what was wrong… but not yet. He'd wait until they were firmly on their way. Besides, maybe he'd be better by then anyway.

He tried to act happy, to act like nothing was wrong, trying to get Tasuki to cheer up, but nothing seemed to work. Tasuki wouldn't even look up, wouldn't say anything. He only gave Chichiri a slight nod.

Chichiri looked at the road that lay ahead of them. He always felt pretty good when they first set off. He liked to imagine what the next place they went to would be like, what kind of people would be there, and no doubt, what kind of trouble they would get in.

He didn't notice, when all of sudden, Tasuki stopped in the middle of the road. He nearly ran into him, stopping himself just in time.

"Tasuki-kun, what's wrong, no da?"

At first there was no answer, just that usual same quietness. "Why don't you ask yourself that?"

Chichiri was quite taken back at this answer. "N.. nani?"

Tasuki lifted his head up, but still didn't turn around. He wouldn't be able to say this if he turned around. He couldn't look in his face…

"Look… both you and I know what's going on, so there's no use hiding it anymore, okay? You don't have to play dumb."

"W… what do you mean, Tasuki-kun, no da?"

"Dammit Chichiri! Will you just stop that?! And take off that damned mask of yours, this is hard enough for me as it is!"

Chichiri didn't do anything at first, but then he slowly brought his hand up to his face, removing the mask. "Tasuki…?"

"Chichiri.. I think.. I mean… I think it would be best if… if both of us spent some time away from one another…"

"B…but Tasuki, I can't…"

"Look Chichiri!" Tasuki turned around, and Chichiri found in surprise that tears were pouring from Tasuki's eyes. "This is just as hard for me, okay? But… but… this is just going too far, Chichiri, and I'm fuckin' scared!"

Chichiri felt as if his legs were about to give out from beneath him, and he sat down quickly in the middle of the road. He could feel tears threatening to come out as he began to take in what Tasuki was saying.

"We can't do this! It just… it's just not right, okay? You're a monk… and I'm… I'm a bandit… and I mean, we're both… we're both…"

Chichiri closed his eyes tigthly, trying to hold back the tears.

"Aw fuck. Chi… Chichiri… you'll see, this is… this is better for the both of us. We just have to pretend this never happened, we have to forget about it!"

"But Tasuki! I don't want to forget about it!" Chichiri was openly crying now. He couldn't… he just couldn't go through this again.

"Me neither! But… but…" Tasuki moved forward, taking Chichiri's face in his hands. He brought his face to Chichiri's, pushing his lips deeply into the other's. He wrapped his hands around Chichiri's neck, kissing more furvently.

He finally broke the kiss, leaning back to look into Chichiri's face. He looked so scared… so small…

"I've… I've gotta' go!!" Tasuki stood up, quickly turning around. His feet pounding against the rough dirt as he ran away as fast as he could, ran away from everything that had happened.

Chichiri watched him go, his heart breaking with every step Tasuki took. "Tasuki!!! TASUKI!!!!!"