Chapter Five: Conflict

Notes: This chapter is the end of Part One in Vision of a Wandering Star. Hope everyone's enjoying the story so far; it's been fun writing it.

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Tasuki stood solidly before Yume, arms crossed as he gave out his instructions. At Chichiri's suggestion, they had decided to cover physical combat first; chi techniques, he pointed out, were much more rigorous and draining. So, with a shrug and trademark grin the bandit had agreed, though internally he knew that the monk was stalling.

"All right, Yume. The easiest thing I can teach ya right now is how to block. It's pretty simple and is a lot more handy in a tight spot than knowin' how to punch or kick, see?" At her nod, he continued, spreading his legs shoulder width apart.

"Now, when you're either defending or attacking, ya gotta be in the right stance or you'll lose yer balance... now watch me, and do the same... Right... no, move your foot over here some... Good! Okay... now to blocking itself..."

After an hour or so of slow-motion blocks, Tasuki announced that it was time to spar. Yume readied herself in the stance she'd been shown, hands dangling loosely at her sides. The brigand stretched a bit, working out his back. It was a difficult job, he realized, to teach a beginner how to fight, but she'd mentioned having some sort of self-defense classes back home, which helped somewhat.

"Ya ready, Yume-chan?" he called.

"Hai, sensei!" she saluted, smiling. He returned the salute, then charged towards her. Tasuki had to focus most of his concentration into keeping his velocity down, for one of the bandit's seishi abilities was inhuman speed and reflexes. He saw Yume tense in anticipation, then threw his first punch. Narrowing her eyes, she parried it with an open hand a split second before it connected with her shoulder. Grunting approval, he reached with his leg to hook her knee, but the girl side-stepped easily.

Chichiri sat cross-legged on the sidelines, his mouth frowning in disapproval. This seems almost too easy for her. But he remained silent for the time being, still having some faith in his friend's teaching ability. After all, he'd shown Miaka some moves in the past.

But then, Miaka was much weaker physically than Yume appears to be.

"Tasuki!" he called, waving the bandit over. With a raised eyebrow he walked over to the monk's position.

"What'cha need, Chichiri? Somethin' wrong?"

"Not exactly, no da, but I don't think you're taking Yume very seriously."

The redhead jerked, obviously insulted. "Whaddya mean? You think I'm going easy on 'er cuz she's a girl?"

"Well... if you put it that way... yes, I think so, no da."

Both shot a glance to the priestess, who was practicing a duck-and-block while waiting. Tasuki's lingered for more than a moment, an idea striking him.

"Well, 'Chiri, ya think you can do any better? Physical fighting ain't exactly yer thing."

The monk immediately went chibi, red in the face and puffing out his chest in indignation. "I may be a mage, but I'm by no means weak, na no da! Because I choose magic over brute strength doesn't make me incapable, na no da!"

"All right then," the azure-haired seishi was awarded by a fanged smirk. "You go an' show her. This'll be a laugh."

Chibi Chichiri stuck out his tongue, then returned to normal size with a puff of white smoke. "Fine then Tasuki. But remember, no da, that she's not Miaka." As he stalked off, the bandit stood staring with mouth agape, wondering what in the world that remark meant.

Yume looked up, expecting to see Tasuki returning to spar. She was elated from being able to deflect his attacks so fluidly and easily, and felt she was ready to move on. Instead, her eyes widened as Chichiri, not the redheaded seishi, walked up with his staff to stand before her.

"You did well with Tasuki's playing around," he stated in a flat monotone. "But let's try something a little different, no da. Try to block me." Before the girl could react, he was already moving, swinging his staff towards her side...

WHAP! Almost instinctively, her knee rose in defense, connecting with the dense wood. She whimpered in slight pain from the contact, raising her wrist barely in time to deflect what would have been a crushing blow to her neck.

"CHICHIRI!" Tasuki shouted from the sidelines. "LAY OFF ALREADY!"

The monk stopped momentarily, looking at Yume but speaking to the bandit. "Any enemies we come across aren't going to 'lay off' because she's a girl, no da. She has to learn this way, Tasuki, so that she doesn't get hurt even worse later on, na no da."

There was a protest, along with a muffled curse, and though Yume cradled her wrist in pain she saw the truth in Chichiri's words.

"Tasuki... it's okay!" she assured him with a smile. "I'll be all right, sensei." She saw the redhead blush, causing her to smile. Now she turned her attention back to the monk, who watched her in silence.

"Bring it on."

He complied, rushing at her again at top speed. Gritting her teeth and planting herself into position, she watched his movements... he swung... Yume rolled to the side just before Chichiri's staff hit her stomach, and jumped up to take a second blow with one forearm. She cried out, but amid her tears she kept on going, parrying a long series of blows and then finally sidestepping a forward charge, panting for breath.

"Anticipate their moves!" the monk was shouting. "Watch their style for any weak points!"

"Got it!" She dodged a swing, but overcompensated. Yume lost her balance, backpedaling two steps before falling onto her back. Chichiri drove his staff downwards into her exposed midsection, landing a glancing blow as the priestess rolled out of the way and flipped to her feet.

"Damn..." she muttered, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She squinted at the monk, who was moving in almost slow motion at her. She thought she saw something, but as she dodged once more, saw it again.

Of course! she realized with a start. Chichiri lost an eye... so that means he has a blind spot to his left! Okay, Yume... concentrate on those few judo lessons you had...

This time as Chichiri readied another attack, Yume did a controlled forward tumble to the side, landing by his left leg and hooking it with hers. She pulled, and with a startled "DA!" he began to collapse over her, but spun in midair to land on top of the girl with staff positioned over her throat.

It took a moment for their position to register, as the two lay sprawled over the earth. Chichiri huffed for breath, hovering over her body with legs entangled with Yume's. Then, as he looked to see if she was all right, froze in place. The girl had her eyes closed, gasping for breath as she grasped the staff, face flushed from exertion and thrown to the side. There was silence for a long time, but when the priestess opened her eyes to meet Chichiri's hidden one, she too froze.

"Y-yume no da..." he stuttered, trying to contain a blush and control his breathing. "Are you all right?"

"Um... I think so..." she responded silently, relaxing her muscles at last though her gaze remained locked with the monk's. "Chichiri?"

"N-nani no da?" He gulped at their extremely close proximity, but couldn't ignore how close their faces were...

"Was it a dream?"

Though a vague question, Chichiri knew exactly to what Yume what referring. And he wished she hadn't brought it up; he wanted so badly to move away from her... but found his own body betraying him. Most of his weight was pressed against her from the fall, allowing him to feel even through their clothing every curve of her figure... and the fact that she wore a form-fitting outfit didn't help matters, either...

He wanted to scream that yes, yes it was all a dream and that he didn't want to be around her... but it was all wrong. Even acknowledging the inquiry would prove to be his undoing; it seemed he was trapped by his own actions.

"Iie, it wasn't," he said in reply with a sigh of resignation. "It was very real." And as he stared into those sad blue eyes, he began losing himself in their depths. Chichiri caught a glimpse of something that he hadn't noticed before within Yume... an intense loneliness, a sense of alienation... one who has lived without a feeling of belonging; he gasped, for he recognized these emotions as reflected within himself.

"Yume..." he breathed, leaning closer to her without thinking. She looked away suddenly, and the monk could no longer resist pressing his lips against hers, moving her chin with his hand back towards him. The girl responded immediately, leaning up slightly to return the kiss with equal force. Both felt the passion from the night previous returning in waves, but before they could continue, they were stopped by loud hoots of laughter.

"WHOO! Get 'er Chiri!" Tasuki bellowed merrily. "Don't let me interrupt your 'training,' okay kids?"

As if his playful jibes were a bucket of cold water to the face, Chichiri reddened and clumsily got to his feet. Mentally cursing himself for losing control for a second time, he resolved to meditate for the remainder of the night after Yume's lesson concluded.

What's wrong with me? I barely know this girl, and already I'm kissing her like she's my lover??? I think I've been hanging around Tasuki too long...

To Yume he said, "Very good work, no da. You handled my attacks with skill. With some more practice, you will become a good fighter, no da. However, magic is an entirely different genre, used not only for fighting, but for healing and deception. Do you understand?"

Tasuki did a little victory dance while Chichiri's back was turned, flashing Yume the peace sign with a deformed grin. The girl stifled a giggle as she glanced in his direction, then returned to focusing on Chichiri with less hesitation than she had before. Maybe he regretted it, but there was no doubt that the monk cared for her as she did for him. But was it... love?

The word seemed almost alien to her, unfamiliar in sound and feel. No, perhaps it was too soon to say love... but it was definite that she felt something mutual between them... why else had he kissed her like that?

She listened to the deep sounds of his voice, gentle and soothing as he explained the essence of magic and its uses in a condensed lecture that must have taken him years to understand. She picked up on it quickly; much was common sense, others she knew from books she had read back home. It was exciting to be at last learning something worthwhile; the physical training had been necessary and beneficial, but this... Yume had dreamed of magic and enchantment from the moment she was introduced to it.

In a few hours' time, she had learned the basics of meditation and focusing spells, but it went slow enough that she absorbed every word and piece of advice, taking them to heart where no one could ever remove them. Chichiri was patient with her inexperience, but she picked up quickly, surprising the both of them.

The monk began to wonder if his teaching was necessary; Yume seemed to know what he demonstrated to her already. But as she mimicked his actions with awkwardness and a tinge of nervousness, he realized that she did indeed have great potential, but had no true channel for her energies until now. For in her world it was insisted that magic was myth, a fantasy that none could attain; Miaka had told him this when they'd first met.

And so, he walked her through every step, holding her hand the entire way but careful to not trod on her wings. For Yume was indeed a bird with strong wings; she just needed to learn how to use them. By the time the session was over, Chichiri felt confident that Yume was ready to go on to the next level. He was worried, however, that perhaps they were going too fast -- it had taken him months to attain the necessary control for the most basic of spells -- but there was no time to waste. The danger was here and now... and Yume had to be ready.

Taiitskun watched Yume through her largest mirrors, awed at the speed which she learned new techniques in both physical and spiritual strength. Nyan-Nyan stood by her side, silent but pouting sadly.

"Nyan-Nyan want to help Chichiri-sama," she whined, earning her a chuckle from the old oracle.

"Silly girl. If you were there, would Chichiri have done what he did?"

"Well... maybe not... but Nyan-Nyan wanted to be there! Better to see it in person! And want to help train the Priestess with magic! Priestess-sama is a fast learner, Taiitskun! Already passed what took Chichiri-sama months!"

"Yes, indeed," the Creator nodded, smirking. "Though her powers are weak for now, it is certain that with Chichiri's help they will grow rapidly, as will his. However--"

"-- Chichiri-sama must admit feelings to be strong, yes!" the girl chirped with a bright smile, and the old woman sighed, sweatdropping but nodding all the same.

Nyan-Nyan peered with sorrow down at the solemn Chichiri through the mirrors, deep in thought. Chichiri-sama still hurts from long ago, and now he hurts Yume-chan and Tasuki. This cannot go on, or Munashii will win! Nyan-Nyan must help...

Three days passed, and Yume had begun to master not only blocks, kicks and minor punches, but also basic elemental spells and chi shielding. Though there were many things to iron out in these skills, Tasuki and Chichiri had assured her that there would be plenty of time to practice on their quest to find the sacred relics.

Yume worked hard, even while not in training. While in her room she drilled in shadow sparring, then rested while meditating to regain her strength. Tasuki and Nyan-Nyan were frequent visitors, bringing with them jokes and cheer; but Chichiri, though becoming more friendly, remained at a distance from her.

Ever since we kissed, it seems like he hates me... but I can't tell with that mask on. Why is he so afraid to take it off? It seems so unfair, that he gets to hide his emotions when the rest of ours are out in the open.

She and Tasuki were in her room now, exchanging humorous tales while dining on plates of food brought by the chipper Nyan-Nyan. The bandit related many incidents of trouble he'd run into with his best friend Kouji, before meeting Miaka and joining the Suzaku Seishi.

"-- and so we had to go an' fight this huge monster who was after the old boss's tessen. We thought we knew the entire incantation, but for most of the battle it didn't work."

"So that fan shoots fire, huh?" Yume queried, eyebrow raised. The bandit laughed.

"Well, yeah, you baka. What'd ya think it did? Keep me cool in summertime?"

"I wouldn't know. So all you do is say the incantation and it just works?"

"No, no," Tasuki shook his head, giving Yume a gentle noogie. "It's more like the words are a trigger, and you let your life force coax out the fire. The more chi ya put into it, the more powerful the inferno."

"Oh! That's really awesome, Tasuki!"

"Yeah," he agreed, a stupid smile creeping across his lips. "Sure was fun to flame Tamahome all those times. We used to brawl all the time... he was the brother I never had." He fell silent, reminiscing about time long past. Yume looked at him sadly, feeling out of place all of a sudden.

"You fell in love with Miaka, didn't you?"

He glanced up at her, and the look in his golden eyes was enough. Then he turned away, running one hand through his fiery locks of hair. "She wasn't meant to be mine. Tama had her heart from th' beginnin'. I was no competition to the love they had... so I spent all my time protecting them. If she was happy... if they were happy, then I was, too.

"I tried to hurt Miaka, once... I was possessed by a water demon, but it preyed on my hidden love for her. I almost..." his voice cracked, "I almost raped her, Yume... but Tama showed up just in time... to stop me. I regained control for a moment, just long enough to drive the demon out..." Tasuki kicked at the floor angrily, hands balled into tight fists. "I never deserved their forgiveness... but after that I swore never to let anything come in between them. I finally saw how happy she was with him, and though she loved me, too, it wasn't the same way."

He felt arms around him, and turned to hug Yume back tightly. "I'm sorry Yume, I didn't want to burden ya with all that."

"It's okay, Tasuki-chan," she soothed. "That's what friends are for, right?"

"Yeah... right..." he murmured, thinking about Chichiri. The two hadn't talked much since the first day of Yume's training, and it almost seemed like the monk was avoiding him and Yume both.

As if to echo his concerns, the girl spoke up, "I wonder what Chichiri's doing. I haven't seen him in a long time... outside of helping me with magic, that is. Is he all right, Tasuki?"

"I wish I knew, Yume. I wish I knew."

The night found Yume back in the gardens, though not for practice. Dressed in her old clothing for a change, she let her hair sit loose over her shoulders as she sat beneath a sakura tree. Gazing up at the stars through the fragrant flowers, she named each constellation of Suzaku as Tasuki had shown them to her.

"Nuriko... Hotohori... Mitsukake... Chiriko... Tamahome... Tasuki... and Chichiri." Mention of the monk's name sent her heart into a downward spiral, but she shoved the feeling away as she picked up the notebook and pencil from beside her. She turned to the page with Chichiri on it, flipped it over. Not knowing what image would come to life on the paper, Yume placed her pencil on the clean white sheet, and fell into a meditative trance.

Yume didn't know how long she had been mindlessly sketching, but the next thing she registered was a ghostly silhouette forming in front of her.

'So you're Yume, huh?' it said in a distinctly feminine voice, but despite the unfamiliarity, the girl knew who it was. The figure smiled approvingly, walking up to embrace the surprised priestess.

"Am I dreaming? I thought you were..."

'Dead?' the ghost pouted, long bangs falling over intense violet eyes. 'Yes, sadly enough I am, and yes, you're dreaming all right. You can't see me outside dream-form, even though you're my new Priestess.'

"So you know, about everything?"

'I know about Munashii, yes. The rest of us have been looking in on his mountain, where he's stirring up a lot of trouble. It's a chilling place, even to a dead guy... anyway, that's not what I came here for.'

"What, then? Some kind of other trouble?"

Nuriko pursed his lips, brushing Yume's hair behind one ear in a sisterly -- or was it brotherly? -- fashion. 'You could say that. I'm not allowed to reveal much... but what I can say is to not give up on Chichiri. He cares for you more than he has for anyone else... he just doesn't know how to show it yet.'

"But... he hates me after seeing his scar! And I don't know how I feel about him..."

A laugh. 'I think you do, silly Yume. And he doesn't hate you, not in the least. Chichiri... has always been careful to not betray any weakness to anyone. He hides behind his mask so that he can help others, even when he's hurting inside.'

"Tasuki... he told me that Chichiri went through... something traumatic. Are you allowed to tell me what it is?"

The cross-dresser let out a breath of air, rolling his eyes. 'Leave it to that lunkhead to spill the beans. I think Mr. Monk will have to tell you all of it himself... but I will say that he's been haunted for almost ten years... for killing someone he loved dearly. He doesn't want you to know that, because he's afraid you'll reject him.'

"He... did? But if it was someone that close to him, then he must have had a reason, right?"

He nodded. 'You could say that. But like I said, it's up to Chichiri when to tell you. Because of what happened, he's drawn himself into a deep depression and won't let anyone near his heart. That's why he's been so distant from you.'

Yume looked down at her feet for a long time, then finally back to face Nuriko. "What do I need to do?"

'Confront him with your true feelings. Then we'll know for sure...'

"Know what for sure?"

'I have to go, Yume... they're calling me back. Good luck!'

"Wait, Nuriko!" she reached out to the spirit, but he had already faded into a red mist...

Take good care of him... he needs you...

"Yume... Yume...NOOO!" Chichiri jerked awake, his heart pounding and skin damp with cold sweat. He raised a hand to his forehead, frantically trying to reach a calmer state. He brushed his bangs away annoyedly, chest heaving from memories of the dream... No, he growled, it was a nightmare...

'So you've seen what is to come, already?' A red light formed in one corner of his room, causing the monk to look up and gasp. 'I see you're still troubled.'

"Mitsukake!" Chichiri exclaimed, a tear welling in his mahogany eye. "What are you doing here?"

The physician took a seat in a nearby chair, resting his head on crossed arms. He looked the same as Chichiri remembered; short black hair sticking straight up and held by two headbands, one purple, one yellow; a warm green tunic that he'd worn in the mountains clothed his extremely tall form. He didn't answer the monk's question directly, choosing to add one of his own.

'Why do you torture yourself so, Chichiri? I thought you'd gotten past this.'

"You sound like Taiitskun," the azure-haired seishi accused, making a disgusted face. "I can't just up and forget Hikou's death... deaths... and both by my own hand. I have to live with being a murderer for the rest of my life... and I don't want anyone to share in my pain. I can't bring myself to have another person plunge into darkness with me."

Mitsukake gave his friend a sad smile, remembering his own descent into depression and darkness... 'Chichiri, I understand. You know about what happened to Shouka... but have you realized that had I not faced my fears, Miaka would have died?

'I'm not asking you to forget Hikou... but I am asking you to remember yourself, as Ri Houjun. There's a heart inside of you... I've seen it. But as I watched you over time, it grew even more closed to the world, and even to Tasuki, your best friend! And now you, the ever bubbly peacemaker, has even torn apart the heart of our new Priestess.'

The monk lay back down, staring up at the ceiling. "What I did was a mistake, a spell of the night," he said bluntly, and with regret. "The way Yume feels for me is nothing but a young girl's temporary infatuation."

'You speak as if you know.'

"I do know, Mitsukake. She's still just a child. There's no way she could ever feel that way for me." To the monk's astonishment, his friend laughed heartily, gripping the chair for support. He sat up, raising one eyebrow. "Are you all right?"

'Yes... I'm fine... but have you listened to yourself, Chichiri?' the doctor's tone became serious once more. 'Still a child? She's almost in her twenties physically... but maturity-wise she's far above normal. And she loves you, Chichiri; nothing can change that except you.'

"What do you mean?"

'I mean,' he sighed, 'that you've already halfway broken her heart. There's more at stake here than you realize, my friend... Munashii has been preying on your emotions for quite some time now, and with the arrival of Yume matters are far worse.'

"Are you saying..."

'Yes. Munashii is feeding upon your indecision and anguish, and as the most powerful seishi still alive, the power it gives him multiplies tenfold.'

"So that's what Taiitskun meant," Chichiri realized with a start. "That I help decide the outcome of this war because of my own emotions?"

Mitsukake nodded, smiling. 'You're starting to get it. There's more to the story, but you'll have to figure that out on your own. My time is limited here... the rest of us are at Munashii's mountain at the moment, keeping a shield up to prevent him from escaping. You must leave to find those relics, and quickly! We can't hold out for more than another two months, if not less... Good luck, my friend, and protect the Priestess with all of our love.'

"Mitsukake..." But he was gone, faded away into the shadows. The monk cried out in frustration, furious with himself and his stupidity. Of course the Destroyer would choose me... I was the one most affected by Tenkou's attampt at a takeover. Hikou... what would you have me do?

Feeling lost and terribly alone, Chichiri rose from his bed. He grabbed his kesa to wrap it around his exposed shoulders, and left his room in search of some form of solace. Heavy footfalls cast a gloomy enchantment over his mind, which had receded into the distant past. The pillars, windows, and fine tapestries of Taiitskun's palace congealed into a messy blur in his eye, as he let go of the moment and let his subconscious take control.

A wash of cool air brought him back to his senses, as did the fragrance of seasonal cherry blossoms. The monk smiled upon recognizing his favorite tree, where he had long ago carved his seishi symbol into the immortal wood as a promise to protect the Priestess of Suzaku. He'd been young then, young and hurt after the death of Hikou; he sighed, remembering how his solemn vow had given him the strength he needed to move on.

However, this time around, he'd found the vow to be empty, almost meaningless. Ever so slowly, Chichiri's resolve had begun to crumble, beginning shortly after Miaka and Taka had left for good. He found little comfort in confiding to Tasuki, his best friend for eternity... there was just something missing from his surroundings that the blue-haired man couldn't place. But it was Mitsukake's appearance that pulled the strings of his closed heart, forcing him to see the truth. He was lonely; all of the seishi had had their special someone as friend or otherwise, while Chichiri himself was friendly to everyone without any thought of reward.

I've been a fool... he scolded himself gruffly. Hotohori had Houki and Nuriko... Chiriko had Mitsukake, Tasuki has Kouji... and Miaka had Tamahome. Never once did it hit me how separate I felt, until they were all gone. They were my only family.

Swallowing, Chichiri sat down beneath the whispering branches of flowering sakuras, stretching his tired body against the strong trunk. I need to talk to Yume... I can't keep this from her any longer. If I'm to protect her from Munashii... she has to know everything.

He reached out with his senses, feeling the life forces of nature all around him, allowed their presence to calm him... and then he felt the spark of another human's chi. The monk's eye opened, and he smirked once he'd recognized whose it was.

She always seems to sneak up on me. Peeking around the other side of the tree, Chichiri smiled genuinely at Yume, who lay comfortably on the grass, asleep with her sketchpad cradled in one arm. He moved to sit beside her, watching over the girl as she slumbered.

Mitsukake was right. She's no child... not in any sense of the word. How blind I've been... was this the doing of the Destroyer? To drive me away from her before anything could happen? Great Suzaku, was this all planned?

Yume sighed in her sleep, a tear escaping down one cheek to mar her otherwise peaceful features. Chichiri felt his heart ache at the sight; what could be so painful to one still so young and pure? He watched the salty drop descend down to her chin, glittering like a starlit diamond as it fell at last onto the open page of her book. Reaching over to retrieve the item, he nearly dropped it after spying the elaborate designs she had drawn.

There was a perfect replica of Yume, clutching a pillow while tears streaked down her stricken face, blue eyes holding nothing but helplessness and despair. Tasuki held her tightly in his arms, a look of intense anger upon his fiery and lupine features as he regarded the deep shadows surrounding them. The monk looked closer, gasping upon recognizing the ghostly form of Nuriko standing behind them; he was in a defensive stance to ward off the impending danger, but how Yume knew what the cross-dresser looked like was beyond him. In the background was Chichiri himself, holding his staff tightly and staring out at the viewer, maskless. His clothes were in rags, and from his back, there protruded a pair of ash-grey wings, bloody from battle. He stood alone, face set in stony silence and eye glaring accusingly, but also saddened. The symbolism within these images screamed out to Chichiri, clearly conveying the artist's confusion and feelings of disillusionment.

"Yume-chan, no da..." he murmured. "What have I done?" Absently brushing stray bangs from her face, he was startled when Yume leaned up into his warm touch. He felt a shiver run down his spine, though not from fear this time. The next thing he knew, Chichiri was stroking the silky strands of Yume's long brown hair, reveling in the way it felt between his fingers.

The girl shifted in her sleep, mumbling incoherently. She was dreaming, and had been so since Nuriko disappeared. Visions of what was to come filled her mind... images of suffering, pain and turmoil. She saw Suzaku's beast form shot down from the sky, the feline form of Byakko following suit as dark minions gave chase to him...

Yume cried out for the evil to stop, stop hurting them... but as she tried to run and save them a strong arm gripped her elbow. Whirling around, Yume screamed to see a bloody corpse clinging to her, eye burning red in the darkness...

"CHICHIRI!" she screamed, struggling as his arms snaked around her waist and held her close...

Yume...

"Yume... Yume-chan, wake up! Wake up, na no da!"

"Let go! Let go!" she sobbed, falling forward onto the monk's chest. Chichiri held her close to him, coaxing the girl awake. "Chichiri..."

"Shh... Yume-chan no da... you're dreaming... it's time to wake up now..." he searched for her chi, comforting it with his own. Immediately she began to calm, though her crying hardly slowed. On the road back to consciousness, she latched onto his kesa in fright, shaking from the vividness of her visions.

Yume... what do you see? He wished he could see what she did, in order to perhaps lessen the pain, but it was impossible. Though the mage was trained to channel another's visions into himself, it was to be used only in a crisis... such a violation of privacy was intolerable to Chichiri.

At last, the girl shook herself awake, promptly gasping in confusion. The seishi held her tightly, whispering "It's me, no da," in her ear.

"C-Chichiri?"

"Hai... you were dreaming, no da... are you all right?"

She visibly relaxed, collapsing into his gentle embrace. "Am I still dreaming... or are you really here... Suzaku, don't ever let me wake up..." Her tears ran anew, and despite his mind screaming no no no over and over, Chichiri felt the walls around his soul crumble from the sound of her crying.

"Iie, Yume-chan no da... I'm here..." Hesitant at first, he raised her chin and brought her face closer. Using his thumbs, the monk softly wiped away her tears while at the same time cradling one cheek. She felt warm under his touch, her eyes haunted and lost as if still in the dream. Then, upon realizing what was happening, slowly backed away from him. Chichiri let her go reluctantly, but lightly grasped her hand so that she couldn't run off as he had done once before.

"Your mask..." she began, but he shook his head.

"I shouldn't have done that to you. You, of all people, need to know the truth about me." Yume found herself holding her breath; he wasn't using the playful 'no da's anymore. She let it out slowly, raising her gaze to meet his.

"Go ahead," she murmured, gesturing. "I'm listening."

He paused before beginning the tale, but a gentle squeeze of his hand provided surprising reassurance. "It was... about ten years ago, maybe a little less. I had two people whom I held more dearly to my heart than anything; one my fiancée -- Kouran -- and the other my best friend, Hikou. We were always together, the three of us... getting into trouble, helping out with the chores... we thought we'd be together forever.

"Then, a few months after I had proposed to Kouran, I went to visit her and found her crying in the corner. I was scared... because somehow I knew what had happened. She told me the exact words I prayed would never leave her lips; that she couldn't marry me. I demanded to know why, but she couldn't answer... it didn't matter, because I knew who had done it.

"And so I confronted Hikou by the river, demanding him to give Kouran back to me. He insisted it was only a kiss and nothing more, that he'd never steal her away from me even though he loved her... but I was so angry I pulled a knife. We struggled beneath a raging storm, until he backed too far into the riverbank and fell in. By then the floods had come, and he was barely holding on to a fallen stump. I reached for him, all anger forgotten... but I didn't see the log coming at me. It hit my face..." he traced his scar, "and I let go of him. I never should have let go of Hikou... not only did I lose him, but my entire family and Kouran in the same flood.

"I never saw him again, until one year ago while fighting Tenkou. A demon had possessed my best friend and saved him from the raging water... and I was forced into killing him again. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life... but in the end... he saved me and forgave everything. I was so ready to die with him that time... I didn't want to let go of him again..." Chichiri's eye teared up, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't want to keep from you, Yume... the fact that I was a murderer. I didn't want you to be afraid of me... or hate me for what I had done. Please forgive my selfishness..."

He looked back at the girl, who raised her lips to meet his in the softest of touches. "It wasn't your fault, Chichiri. You had to save Miaka and the others... and Hikou forgave you, didn't he? He wanted you to move on, to love again. It's no fun being alone... and it burns a deep hole in your heart."

"You..."

"I've been alone my entire life, Chichiri. Aside from family and a few friends, no one ever really cared about me. That's why I don't talk, or even trust anyone at first; they either try to take advantage of me, or end up leaving me." The words reverberated in the mage's mind, echoing his own past and loneliness. Unconsciously he drew her closer, staring deep into the crystal blue that held so much caring for him...

"Yume..." he breathed into her ear. "I swear... I won't let anything happen to you. Nothing will come between us, and you'll never be alone again... so long as you'll have me."

"What? You mean..."

"Wo ai ni, Yu-chan. Aishiteru." Swiftly, he ensnared her into a passionate kiss, which was returned with equal vigor, her arms winding around his neck to being them closer together. Chichiri felt as if he were on fire, his hands clamping firmly on her waist securely.

Yume gasped from the intensity of his kisses, finally breaking away breathlessly. She knew her face was flushed, and her heart was beating like a caged butterfly's wings. Never before had she felt this way around a man... and never had she dreamed of someone loving her back. Hoped, yes... but to feel so safe in one's arms, to be held and revel in the safety that embrace promised... it was an entirely new experience that she prayed would never die.

"I love you, Chichiri..." she whispered, resting her head against his warm shoulder. He replied, but she couldn't hear; she'd fallen asleep from the warmth of his body and the sound of his steady heartbeat.

*****

Notes: Well, I hadn't meant to bring them together quite so soon, but it's funny how things work out sometimes, ne? I know Chichiri-chan seemed a bit OOC, but he had his reasons, no da. Next in Part Two! The quest for the four sacred relics begins; can Yume find the strength to protect the seishi from Munashii's evil plans? What does the Destroyer have in store for her?