AN: Wow!! I've never gotten this many reviews for a story before ::sniffle:: They like me! They really like me!! ::sweatdrop:: Ahem, anyway, Please keep reviewing! I'll be your best friend! ^-^
There is also Tasuki and Miaka kawaiiness in this chapter! Yay! ^-^ So, with all that said, please enjoy your stay at fanfiction.net (Hey, it's late, and I'm on sugar, gimmie a break ::begins to hum kit kat bar song::)
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"Miaka!"
Miaka watched numbly as Hitoshi charged at her, sword in his hands. Her eyes were glazed over with tears. She only grunted when she felt herself be pushed away from the sword. She blinked, and it was almost like she woke up from her stupor at that moment.
"T-Tasuki!?" She gasped as she saw the seishi and Hitoshi struggling. Tasuki was on his back, the tessen held in both hands, Hitoshi's sword pressing into it. She felt a pair of arms pull her away from the struggle and she turned to look over her shoulder.
"Chichiri?" She asked unsurely. He carried her a safe distance away before setting her down. It was then she realized Yumi's body was still in her arms.
'It's like she's smiling…'Miaka fought back more tears as she looked at the younger girl. The clash of metal caused her to look towards the fight. Tasuki was struggling to knock the sword out of Hitoshi's hands. Miaka gasped as she noticed the small stains of blood on his shirt.
"Tasuki…" She whispered. He was doing this for her. Because she was mourning the death of Yumi, Tasuki was getting hurt.
"Stop…" She whispered, struggling to her feet. She gently laid Yumi's now cold body on the ground and began to walk slowly to the fight.
"Miaka-chan!"
She ignored the monk behind her and sped up her walk to a run. If she could just get enough force, she could pull this off. She watched Hitoshi slip the sword past Tasuki's tessen. He wouldn't have enough time to react, she realized in horror. Determined to get there in time, she pumped her legs as fast as she could.
'Almost there…'Just before the sword came down on Tasuki, Miaka rammed into Hitoshi, sending both him and herself flying towards the edge of the cliff.
"Miaka!"
She could faintly hear Tasuki's panicked voice from behind. She grunted, the wind knocked out of her, and opened her eyes. She almost laughed with relief when she saw she was on top of Hitoshi, his sword a safe distance away. He moaned and opened his eyes, then blinked, and looked at Miaka, scowling. He managed to snake an arm out from under her hold and it shot out and grabbed her neck. She let out a cry of surprise as he held her tightly.
"Get up." He growled.
"Miaka! Let her go ya' bastard!"
Hitoshi ignored him and got up as Miaka did. Her knees were shaking and she took short, raspy breaths, trying to get air into her lungs. She could hear Tasuki letting loose a string of colorful choice words.
"Now I've got your miko, and there is nothing you can do to stop me from using the power inside her." Hitoshi sneered, his eyes gleaming. Miaka watched helplessly, wincing as his nails dug into her skin.
"You son of a…." Tasuki muttered, his eyes flashing dangerously. Hitoshi ignored the comment and continued to back away from the seishi, Miaka still in his grasp.
Tasuki took a step forward, but Hitoshi stopped him.
"Take one more step and I'll kill her." He threatened, wrapping his other arm more tightly around the girls' waist. She whimpered slightly as she struggled to get her head free.
"Iie."
"Nani?" Hitoshi turned his glare to Miaka, who had spoken.
"Iie. You won't. You want my power, don't you? You would need me alive to get it, wouldn't you?" Miaka remained calm, despite the situation at hand. Hitoshi eyed her carefully.
"What are you up to?" He asked, his grip loosening. Chichiri saw this as an opportunity to attack, and he wasn't going to waste it. He silently motioned for Tasuki to use his tessen. The fire seishi agreed hastily and poised his fan in front of him.
"Rekka Shinnen!"
Fire flew from the tessen and engulfed Hitoshi. He cried out in pain and dropped Miaka, who fell to the ground coughing. She felt a strong pair of arms scoop her up and she opened her teary eyes for a moment.
"Ch-Chichiri?" She asked uncertainly, rubbing the remainder of smoke and ashes from her face. He nodded and backed away from Hitoshi, who was currently hunched over in a fit of coughs.
"Miaka! Are you okay?" Tasuki approached the girl as Chichiri set her down on her feet. She nodded and offered a weak smile.
"Hai, gomen for worrying you, Tasuki." She said sheepishly. Some murmured words reached Chichiri's ears and he turned just in time to see the fire that once engulfed Hitoshi, now gone.
"Time to go, no da." Chichiri grabbed his miko and fellow seishi and began to recite a teleportation spell.
"Damn you! Cowards!" Was the last thing they heard before they disappeared. Hitoshi glared angrily at the spot they once were at. His eyes softened slightly as he noticed the small battered body lying on the ground. He slowly trudged up to the girl and fell to his knees at her side. Only now, while he was alone, did he cry. Yumi, had given up her life for the Suzaku no Miko, something he still couldn't understand. He cupped her clammy cheek in his palm and gently rubbed his thumb across her face.
"Aishteru, Yumi." He gently leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, before standing, her body in his hands. The least he could do was give her a proper burial.
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(AN: This part is for Kitty Lynne! ^-^)
"Déjà vu." Tasuki muttered solemnly, poking at another campfire with a tree branch. Miaka and Chichiri nodded tiredly. It seemed all they could do was approach, and they didn't get far, and then run. And then they somehow ended up back at a campfire. (All three turn to glare at author - ^-^;; What can I say? I'm not feeling very…creative today).
"Hey, I have a question." Miaka looked up suddenly.
"Taiitskun said we needed to get the shinzaho, but why? I mean, if I have the power, what do the shinzaho have to do with anything?" Miaka dragged her index finger through the dirt, drawing something that resembled a cat. Chichiri shrugged and pulled out his mirror.
"We could always ask, no da."
Miaka nodded and waited a few seconds before the image of a disgruntled Taiitskun appeared. Miaka was surprised to not see, or hear, any Nyan-Nyan.
"Miaka? I did not expect to hear from you so soon. Have you retrieved the shinzaho?"
"Iie, actually, I have a question."
"Go on."
"You said that we needed to retrieve both shinzaho in order to stop Hitoshi, am I correct?" Miaka waited for a curt nod from Taiitskun before continuing.
"Well, what does that have to do with my power? I mean, if I were to get the shinzaho, what difference would it make?"
Taiitskun nodded again.
"I'm glad you asked that, Miaka. You see, both of the shinzaho act as….how do I say this…..a beacon."
"Beacon?" By now, both Chichiri and Tasuki were peering over Miaka's shoulder curiously.
"Hai. Without them, your power would not be able to be used. They would awaken your dormant powers. That is why you are in danger if Hitoshi has them." Taiitskun frowned grimly. She did not like the fact that all that was left for Hitoshi to do was to get Miaka. She knew that wouldn't be too hard. Miaka nodded, understandingly.
"Arigatou Taiitskun, for clearing that up." Miaka smiled and handed the mirror back to Chichiri as the image faded. The three sat in silence for a few moments before Tasuki broke it.
"Oi, we better get some sleep if we wanna get the shinzaho." He yawned mid-sentence, causing Miaka to giggle slightly. He looked over at her through the corner of his eye. He fought back the urge to stare. Her cheeks were tainted a light pink and her auburn hair gently framed her face. One fist was held in front of her mouth as she attempted to stop her giggling, which had started for what seemed to be no reason. Tasuki smiled wryly as he watched her, oblivious to the monk's knowing glances.
"I think I'm going to go to bed now, no da." Chichiri announced, laying down on the ground and using his cloak as a pillow.
"Night Chichiri." Miaka smiled warmly and sat back, wrapping her arms around her legs and drawing them up to her chest. She sighed softly as she looked above her, admiring the stars that lit up the sky.
"Miaka?"
It was then Miaka remembered she wasn't alone, and that Tasuki had been sitting there with her. She blushed, embarrassed.
"Yea Tasuki?" She glanced over at him and watched in puzzlement as he quickly turned his gaze away from her.
"Where will you….go when this is all over?" He practically choked on the words as they left his mouth. Miaka's eyes widened for a second, before she rested her chin on her knees and attempted to shrug.
"I don't know. I mean, It's not like Taka's waiting for me." She laughed bitterly and squeezed her eyes shut. A bothersome tear made its' way down her cheek and she gasped when she felt Tasuki gently brush it away. Her eyes shot open and she dared a glance at Tasuki, who was watching her intently.
"Then stay here. I'll miss you." He gently brushed a piece of hair out of her face and moved closer. She could feel his breath dampen her cheek. Her eyes, which were once wide with shock and confusion, were now filled with fondness for the bandit seishi.
"Tasuki." She breathed as his lips met hers. Her eyes fluttered closed as she savored the feel of his lips. After what seemed like a few mere seconds to them, they broke the kiss, breathing heavily. Neither knew what to say. Was it just some freak accident? Something spur of the moment? Or was it….
"Miaka-"
"Tasuki-" They both started at the same time. Blushing, Miaka silently urged Tasuki to finish. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm not going to lie to ya' anymore, Miaka. Now that Taka is out of the way I….Damn it, I love you, Miaka!" Tasuki, who had avoided her eyes until now, looked up, not knowing what to expect. Her eyes were once again wide, filled with both shock and….what was that, love? She blinked and regained her composure before trusting herself enough to speak.
"Tasuki….I don't know what to say…..I….I talked to Nuriko." She blurted suddenly. Tasuki stared at her as if she had just refused free food. She chuckled softly and shook her head, knowing she needed to explain.
"You see, when Hitoshi took you and Chichiri….I kind of lost it. And then Nuriko came. And he said…." She bit down on her lip, wondering if she should continue.
"Nuriko said…?" Tasuki pressed encouragingly. Miaka sighed and looked him directly in the eye.
"He told me that you loved me." She blurted that out before continuing.
"Then, he told me I should give you a chance….and I…."
"You what, Mi-chan?" Tasuki gently placed a hand on her shoulder and urged her to continue. It was killing him, not knowing if she felt the same way. Miaka looked up at him unsurely.
"I-I'd like to give it a chance." She admitted, blushing. Tasuki's eyes widened.
"You would?" He whispered, praying he had heard right. Miaka gave him a crooked smile and nodded. He slowly closed the gap between them, and their lips met again.
"I was wondering when you two would finally admit it, no da!" A voice from off to the side abruptly spoiled the moment and Miaka and Tasuki stared in astonishment at the grinning monk, who was now propped up on his elbows.
"Chiri…I swear I'll…." Tasuki started to stand, but Miaka pulled him back down.
"Forget it." She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek, then turned to Chichiri.
"That wasn't very nice." She tried to look angry, but only ended up giggling.
"I think it's time to go to bed for real, no da." Chichiri suggested, yawning. Miaka nodded and stretched her arms above her head before slowly laying down. Tasuki followed soon after and wrapped his arms around Miaka's waist.
"Night, Mi-chan."
"Night Tasuki." She sighed lightly and buried her head into his chest as she drifted off into one of the most peaceful sleeps she had since she broke up with Taka, two years ago.
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AN: yay! Another chapter down! ^-^ It took me a while to decide if I wanted Miaka and Tasuki to hook up then or later, but then seemed as good a time as any. ^-^ For anyone who actually bothers to read these author's notes, please please please, I beg of you, read and review my story, One Lifetime. ::pouts:: I'm desperate, what can I say ^-^;; Anyway….Yea, so…I'm stuck kinda in a dead end for this story, but I won't stop! I'll just find away around it…. And If I use one more campfire scene, I think Tasuki, Miaka, Chichiri and everyone of you readers out there would strangle me….sooo, enough of that ^-^;; Hope you liked it!
~*Neoshipper*~