Rhetorical
After Tasuki left, Chichiri laughed for a good two minutes. Although Chichiri smiled all the time and devoted himself to making others laugh (he was a favorite with Tasuki's bandits, who had at first been in awe of their Boss's magical monkish friend, but quickly warmed to his humour and magic tricks) Chichiri rarely laughed himself. Tasuki made him laugh though.
Tasuki made him forget. Chichiri was not sure that this was a good thing.
Chichiri traveled without ever expecting to come home. He fished without ever expecting to catch anything. He felt like a bird that flies forever, never ever landing. Like he'd get burned if he ever let himself stay in one place for too long. Except when he was fishing. Time stood still for him then. With Tasuki, Chichiri found that he was able to forget about the things the flood had washed away from him, the same way traveling let him. He wasn't sure if he wanted that.
When Chichiri was with other people, he felt like he had to keep moving, laughing, dancing, and finally, leaving. It was as if he felt like he would get burned if he stayed in one place for too long. Lately, he had been feeling that, maybe it would be okay if Tasuki burned him. He didn't like to hurt others with his own damage. He kept moving and hiding as much to protect others as to protect himself. Sometimes he thought he saw a similar longing in Tasuki's eyes. Like, maybe he could stay in the mountains, with Tasuki, and reminisce about the seishi days, and never ever have to leave the safety of the past, forever. Maybe that would be nice....
****
Whisperlighttouchskybluemaskskin -- Tasuki's eyes snapped open. Abruptly awake, confused at first, then slowly the litany of images merged behind his eyes. He'd been dreaming of Chichiri. Of course.
Damn it, Nuriko! Tasuki thought. He hadn't even known Nuriko could do stuff like twist around a guy's dreams.
Oy!! Nuriko!! He reached out with his mind, feeling angry and violated.
Nothing.
Nuriko?
And that's when Tasuki realized that Nuriko was completely absent from his consciousness. Tasuki was, in fact, all alone with his thoughts, and all of his thoughts seemed to be focused on Chichiri. He further realized that his mind had manufactured that dream all on its own. And that twisty feeling in his stomach? Also his own.
Damn.
Nuriko! I give up!
****
Why isn't Chichiri recieving any love doctoring anyway? Taskuki was still irritable after his abrupt realization this morning. Nuriko hadn't helped matters by being unbearably smug about the whole thing.
How do you know he isn't? Now Nuriko was being coy. This was slightly less annoying, but that didn't mean it was not annoying.
You're with me all the time! Who could be in his head? Hotohori? I bet his love advice is just priceless...Hotohori'd be all like, "Do nothing. Marry a girl who looks like Tasuki instead."
You know, if I weren't still so bitter about that, your dead-on Hotohori impression would be hilarious as well as somewhat arousing.
Tasuki quickly changed the subject.
Anyway, I've come up with a plan.
Finally! Let's hear it.
Okay, here it is: I'm gonna wait until Chichiri makes the first move. That's all I've got so far, whaddaya think?
Nuriko tried to think of a graceful way to say it: That sucks. Nuriko said flatly.
What's wrong with it?! He might!!
Yeah, we all know how comfortable Chichiri is expressing his emotions, what with him wearing a fucking MASK all the fucking time!!
Nuriko! You swore at me! (Pause...and then a mental thumbs up.) Good for you, man!
Nuriko sighed.
Anyway, you really do have to be the one to make the first move.
Nuriko, I told you I can't!
You have to! And I don't just mean dropping hints. You have to be bold and forceful! Nuriko thought that over. Hmmn, but not too forceful, you don't want to scare him off.
Scare him off? Tasuki was under enough stress over this, he really didn't need another issue to deal with here.
Well, you know...you have to be gentle and you have to like, guide him. Tell him what to do.
"Guide him"?! I could never tell Chichiri what to do. I mean, Koji, sure---
(--oh really? Nuriko raised an eyebrow, but Tasuki ignored him and went on with his objection.)
--but not Chichiri. He's like six years older than me, anyway.
Even so, you're probably way more, you know...experienced than he is.
What? I don't think I--Oh. OH. You mean he's a virgin?! Tasuki was, if possible, even more horrified.
Of course!
But he's like 26 or something!
Um, he's a MONK and also, he comes from a village where a girl considers herself totally defiled if her fiance's best friend give her a hug.
Well, yeah, but, oh fuck.
I am correct in assuming that you aren't...?
A virgin? Hell, no.
When did you...?
When I was like, fourteen.
Nuriko was shocked, but he wasn't about to abandon this line of questioning. He loved a little girl talk, even dead. The Seishi had never gotten around to playing Truth or Dare while racing to call Suzaku, and that was a shame, he felt.
So, when was your first time with a guy? You have been with a guy, right? Nuriko leaned forward eagerly.
Yes! My first time was with a guy. Tasuki was starting to get annoyed.
With Koji, right? Am I right?!
Nope.
Oh, Darn. Hey, in our next life, when we're all together again, remind me that I owe Mitsukake five of whatever currency is native to the country we all get reincarnated in.
Um, okay. Why?
Look, the afterlife is boring. We place bets on the living to pass the time. Then we make out I.O.U.'s. Hotohori owes me so much money that if he isn't as rich as an emperor in the next life I'll have my very own love slave....Man, I can't wait to get reincarnated.
Nuriko shook off his shojo bubbles.
Anyway, you keep thinking about that "plan" of yours (Nuriko rolled his eyes.) I'll be back to check on you.
Yeah, I'll bet. Grumbled Tasuki.
And Nuriko's presence rescinded from his mind.
Well, without that pervert blabbering in my head it should be safe to go talk to Chichiri.
Tasuki brightened at that. He actually adored hanging out with Chichiri, who in addition to their own history as seishi, reminded him of the ex-pack leader at times. He still missed his old Leader with all the strength of his pure (for a professional theif) little heart.
****
Tasuki got up and went outside to wash his face in the pond, passing by the tree Chichiri had been sitting under the night before, only to find that Chichiri was still sitting under it. Tasuki thought back, Chichiri hadn't really ever gone to bed last night. Said he just wanted to get some air before bed. He'd...been here all night?
"Hey, Chichiri!" As Tasuki said it he found he felt even happier to see Chichiri than he'd thought he would. Almost foolishly happy. It was nice, to have Chichiri here with him. Really nice.
"Mmn? Oh. Tasuki. Good morning." Even through the mask, Chichiri's smile looked wan.
"What're you doing?"
"Oh, just a little night fishing." He indicated the fishing pole he was holding.
"Um, hate to tell you this, but I'm pretty sure there aren't any fish in that pond, man." Tasuki flopped down next to Chichiri, laughing
Chichiri paused.
"...I know." He replied after a moment.
Tasuki's smile faded a bit.
"Then why're you, like--?"
"Ah, well, contrary to popular belief, the beautiful part of fishing isn't the part where you pull a terrified and helpless fish out of the water and let it die slowly and painfully in an alien environment."
"It isn't?" Tasuki wasn't sure he liked the tone of the other man's voice. Chichiri's voice was quite cheerful and polite, but Tasuki heard a sad and quiet undertone to it.
"People are always surprised to hear that." Chichiri said agreebly. "No, the beauty part of fishing is this: The waiting. The way time stands still for you. It's like traveling. Everything is suspended because you're always in-between. And all you need is some water and a fishing line."
"Well, that sounds...pretty freaking pointless."
Chichiri turned to him, mask blank.
"I'm just sayin'." Tasuki shifted uncomfortably.
"No. No, that's right." Chichiri paused, looked at the water, and then he began to nod to himself. "That's right. That's exactly what you'd say."
"Hunh?" Tasuki was confused. Chichiri took off his mask, and smiled ruefully at Tasuki.
"You would never let time pass without you. You've done really well here. You're a good leader. You're strong and fearless, and your men believe in you. I'm really very proud of you, Tasuki. Very proud."
And Tasuki grinned like a little kid. Chichiri's approval made him so happy it was silly. Suddenly Tasuki felt like everything would be okay. Chichiri respected him! He was proud of him! He would stay with him, and they'd drink and talk and play Pai-Gow together all the time. It would be fucking great!
"I guess I ought to leave today, then." Chichiri slipped his mask back on and began to draw his fishing line in.
Pause.
"Say what?" Tasuki was still smiling, not quite understanding yet. Chichiri placed his hand on Tasuki's shoulder, smiling warmly. Then he got up and stretched.
"Well, you know, you've got a great life here no da. I don't really have anything to do with it."
"Yeah you do! You're--you're my friend!"
"I'll come back and visit again!" Chichiri laughed. "Don't worry, Tasuki. I'm going to go see if I can help Benjiro with breakfast." And as Chichiri walked away, he raised one hand in a cheery adieu, without facing Tasuki.
Tasuki was still sitting on the ground, devastated. Okay, only one thing to do here.
NURIKOOOO!!!
Hai, hai?
Fuck! Hell!! Damn!!
Okay, what happened?
Chichiri wants to leave today!
What?! What did you do?! I was only gone for like, a half-hour!! You ruin everything!!!
Look, I dunno what I did! He was all like, proud of me and it was all cool and then he was like, Gotta go! and then it was all bad and now, and NOW he's making BREAKFAST!!!
Tasuki was so upset he didn't realize that he'd put the emphasis on the wrong words.
But it didn't matter, Nuriko knew what he'd meant.
*****
To Be Continued...
A/N: Three months for THAT? I know, I suck. But I really wanted it to be funnier and then...you know, I'm lazy, and school happened, and Dude, the third chapter needs more funniness before it goes up, too. Ah well. Also, there was this great Bandits Playing Pai-Gow Poker scene that couldn't be fit in anywhere, which was a shame. Darn Shame. I researched Pai-Gow and everything. Thanks for the reviews, hey, thanks for even reading the thing, gosh. People are so kind.