Running Away

Chapter 16

He didn't know where he was, or what had happened. He groggily opened his eye, scanning his surroundings. White… that was all he could see. White.

He blinked a couple of times, trying to make sense of everything. He raised his head slightly so that he could get a better look.

He was in a bed, that he could tell. It was soft… so soft, and it felt wonderful. The white sheets were draped across it, and there was somewhat of a canopy above him, making the light from above a soft pink color.

He sat up, groaning a bit. He could tell that he'd been lying there for a while. He stretched his arms above his head, trying to get the cinks out.

He noticed what he was wearing, and he recognized it, somehow… The soft shirt and pants were about ten sizes too big for him, but it felt comforting. A memory flashed through his mind: him seven years ago, running around wearing his monk clothes that were so big they were practically falling off of him.

He smiled. Taiitsukun. That was when he had first come to Taiitsukun's palace, when he had first started his training here as a monk.

He sighed, knowing that he was in a safe place, knowing that he wouldn't have to worry here.

But wait… why was he here again? Why was he lying here?

He reached out his arm to pull back the sheets and as he did so, the sleeve of his shirt was pushed up a bit, and his attention was drawn immediately to his wrist, to the long, pale, scar that ran across it.

And then, it all came rushing back.

He closed his eye tightly as the memories filled his head, as he relived everything that had just happened. He gripped his wrist almost as if he wanted to pull the scar off.

"Tasuki…"

A single tear slid down his cheek. Tasuki was why he was here. Tasuki was why he had that scar on his wrist. Tasuki was… oh God he wished that Tasuki was here right now. Wished that he could feel those arms around him, comforting him…

"I see that you're finally up."

He looked up, startled, at this new voice. His eye settled upon the old woman that stood before him, next to the bed.

"T-Taiitsukun!" He quickly wiped the tear off his face, trying to hide his emotions. "I…"

"You don't have to explain anything." Taiitsukun crossed her arms in front of her, looking at her pupil. "However, that's certainly something I wouldn't have thought you to do."

Chichiri looked down at his hands, which he had placed in his lap, ashamed. He didn't know what to say. Didn't know what to say to the teacher that had helped him through everything, and who had told him all too many times that suicide wasn't the right way to go.

That had been… after that night… when he had lost his best friend. Did he feel the same way right now that he had felt back then? Did he have the same feelings?

"D… did you find me?" Chichiri timidly looked up, looking his teacher in the face.

"Actually, no. He found you." Taiitsukun looked towards the door at the new person who had just entered.

Chichiri quickly turned his head, startled again that another person had entered so quietly. "T-Taikasei!"

The young boy entered the room, smiling at his friend. He walked up to the bed, resting his hands on one of the poles of the canopy.

"Hi… Chichiri. Long time no see."

"When he found you, he brought you up here, because of the rumor of the… magical girls who could heal anything." Taiitsukun coughed into her hand. "Of course, bringing you here was probably the best thing he could have done."

Taikasei smiled at both of them, his hands running across the smooth wood of the pole.

"All I can say is… you're lucky, Chichiri… I just can't believe that after before, that after all that training, you would have something happen to drive you to this again."

Chichiri once again lowered his head, his thoughts returning to Tasuki and the bandit compound.

Taikasei looked worridly at the older man, wondering what had happened, wondering what could have made Chichiri do this. Everything had sounded like… like it would go alright. What could possibly have been so terrible?

Taiitsukun looked around the room, shaking her head. "I'm going to go back to my room. I'm sure that Taikasei might have a few things to say to you, Chichiri. And I'd think… just think about it… Chichiri."

Taiitsukun slowly turned around, then headed off in the direction of the door, her footsteps faintly echoing in the room. Both Chichiri and Taikasei watched as her form disappeared from sight.

Chichiri sat back, a little uncomfortably, in the bed, her words running through his head.

Taikasei turned towards the monk, a rather blank look on his face. "When I saw you… when I watched you…" he lowered his head. "I couldn't believe it."

Chichiri turned his head up towards the younger boy, watching him.

A small tear ran down Taikasei's face. "I… I was like… 'no, that can't… be Chichiri, it can't be, Chichiri would never do something like that.' It… it couldn't have been you…"

Taikasei sat down on the edge of the bed, his hands clasped tightly together in his lap. He watched them, as if he had never seen them before in his life.

"You… you were the happy one, you were the one who seemed so full of life… Why? Why did you do it?" Taikasei turned to face Chichiri.

Chichiri looked down, not looking into the younger boy's eyes. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to put it.

"What could have happened? What could have driven you… to… to this?" Taikasei took Chichiri's hand in his, the scar facing up.

Chichiri looked at it, looked at the line where his skin had been sealed back together, where the cold knife had slid cleanly through.

"I… I don't know… it all… happened so fast…" Chichiri felt tears start to slide down his face, his shoulders starting to shudder. "One thing led to the other… and then… and then…"

Taikasei held his hand tightly, trying to comfort him.

"He kissed him… he kissed him, right there… I saw it, saw it all. They were… they were…"

"Who?"

"Tasuki… h-he kissed him… it's not… it's not fair!"

Taikasei slid over until he sat next to Chichiri, then brought his hand around his shoulder. Chichiri leaned into him, gripping his shirt, tears soaking it.

"It's okay… it's okay."

"He… he doesn't love me, never will… he loves, he loves him… he doesn't even know how I feel…"

Taikasei gently rocked him back and forth, and soon, his cries stopped. All that could be heard was an occasional hiccough, followed by a sniff.

Taikasei looked down at the older man, noting that he had fallen asleep. He gently layed him down, his head resting on the pillow. Then he got up and pulled the covers up, wrapping them tightly around Chichiri.

He smiled, a soft smile, and then quietly walked out of the room.

* * * *

"You're sure you want to go?" Taiitsukun stood there outside her palace, watching as her pupil prepared his things.

"I have to, no da, it's… my life. I can't really live any way else now." He looked up at his teacher. "Besides, it'll give me some time to think off on my own, no da."

Taiitsukun sighed. She didn't really want him to leave, not so soon after what had happened. There was still… there was still some risk, and she didn't want to lose him.

But it was true that Chichiri was meant for traveling. He never could stay in one place too long, even her palace.

"Don't go!!!" A small group of blue-haired girls ran out of the palace, almost seeming to blend in with each other. They ran up to Chichiri, holding on to his legs.

Chichiri smiled at them, bending down so he could talk to them easier. "I won't be gone too long, and I promise to come back, no da. I just… I like the open road better. Nothing against you, of course, no da."

One of the girls stood in front of him. "But Chichiri-sama! It's no fun with only our ugly master here!"

There was a loud cough from over where Taiitsukun was standing, and Chichiri could sense his master's annoyance.

He set his hand gently down on the girl's head. "But that makes it all the more fun when I come back, no da."

He smiled, and then stood up, the Nyan-Nyans backing away to give him some room. He picked up his small sack that held a few of his items in it, and then slung it over his back. He placed his familiar kasa back on his head, pulling the string under his chin.

Finally, he picked up his staff, holding it firmly in his hand. When he was ready, he turned back around to Taiitsukun.

"I'll be going now, no da." He gave a low bow to her, then stood straight up, looking over at her.

"I wish you the best of luck, Chichiri of Suzaku… and please, take care of yourself."

"Don't worry. I will, no da." He turned away, beginning to walk. He felt the familiar footsteps of the open road on his feet, and it felt comforting.

After he had gone a few steps, he turned back. He raised his hand up, and waved. He watched as the group of Nyan-Nyans happily waved back, as they jumped excitedly in the air.

And then he turned back, facing the path that he was about to set out on, and began to walk.

~The End~

Just kidding! Nya nya nya!! ^_^ This is definitely not the end! For one, I would never stop here. I just… couldn't! Not before Tasuki and Chichiri have even gotten together!! And for another, you would probably all kill me!! ^o^ Anyway… I guess this is really the end of this section. Starting next chapter, we're into OVA 3 territory! So… I guess the next chapter is where the spoilers start, so you're warned. You know, it's kinda' weird. I didn't think this fic would be nearly this long! I figured that this part that I've written so far would be like what, eight chapters? But no, it's 16! And a lot of words to go with that! Weird… well. Thanks again for stickin' with me through this whole thing! And let's just hope that I can get the next chapter posted real soon (hoping of course that I will not have much homework the next few nights)! Yay! v^_^

~SakuraBlossom