Eternity Knot

Chapter Three

By Sakata Ri Houjun

AN: If you don't like this story idea, or how I'm doing this, then don't read it. I don't need complaints when I've already mentioned a hundred times where I'm going with this story. I am a Tas/Chi writer, Kouran is dead and my chichiri needs some love from out there. Maybe in another universe I'll give my monk another chance with his fiancee, but not in this story.

For those of you who are enjoying this, ignore what I just said, it wasn't directed at you, but others who review to ell me that they don't like how I'm going about doing this.

Content: After the failed summoning of Suzaku...

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Houjun looked out over the water as a cool breeze whipped his tunic about him. He'd seen the canal before, when traveling to his student's houses, and it had always calmed his mind. However, there was no peace for the troubled seishi this time in this serene atmosphere. His thoughts kept returning to his wife and daughter, and he felt the tears coming again.

Suddenly, a warm hand was placed on his shoulder and Houjun looked up to see Tasuki. "Are ya okay, Chichiri?"

Houjun shook his head and turned back at the water. He had no desire to talk about his personal life to the young bandit leader. Unfortunately, Tasuki wasn't about to give up so easily.

"Come on. You can tell me..."

Houjun opened his mouth to tell Tasuki to leave him alone, but instead he found himself telling his friend his troubles.

"I can't help but worry. Kutou is getting closer every day to my home."

"The girl you have waiting back there, that's who you're worried about?"

"My wife." Houjun shivered as he spoke. "And my daughter."

"I see. But surely they'll be safe for now?"

"I would've felt the same except... After Tamahome's family was slaughtered, I... Houjun closed his eyes, unable to finish.

Tasuki pulled the older man into an embrace and gently rubbed his back as he pressed his face against his shoulder. Houjun brought his arms up to cling to the stiff leather of the younger man's jacket like he was a lifeline, glad to find some comfort for his worried heart. After awhile, he felt strangely calm and safe within Tasuki's arms. When he realized this, he jerked away from the young seishi's grasp with an apology.

Tasuki shrugged. "Don't be sorry. I'd feel worried too if it were my loved ones."

"You mean your gang?"

"Nah. Those assholes can take care of themselves. But that's beside the point." He grinned and patted Houjun's shoulder.

"Arigatou, Tasuki."

The bandit kept smiling as he turned out towards the water. Houjun watched Tasuki a moment more before facing the same direction as well. Tasuki finally broke the silence.

"There's something bothering me."

"Nani?" Houjun turned to his friend.

"If you're so worried about your family, then why didn't Hotohori have you bring them to the palace as well when he made the offer to Tamahome?" He met the cerulean-haired man's gaze.

"Hotohori doesn't know about my family. None of the others know... Except you." Houjun and Tasuki both turned back to the water and another stretch of silence overcame them.

"Why me, Chichiri?"

Houjun didn't answer, not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.

"I suppose it doesn't matter anyways, huh?" Again, the older seishi couldn't answer Tasuki.

"Do ya want me to leave you alone?" Tasuki glanced at his companion's face to find it impassive. "If you want me to go, just say 'fuck off, Tasuki' and I will."

Houjun closed his eyes and sighed. "I don't want you to go, Tasuki."

Tasuki raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Ya want to talk some more?"

Houjun shook his head. "You're good company. I don't feel quite as alone as I used to since being away from Kouran."

"Is that her name?"

"Hai."

"It's pretty. I'd like to meet her one day."

Houjun laughed, a small smile crossing his face. "I'd think that Katsumi would enjoy meeting you more."

"Your daughter?"

"Hai."

"How old is she?"

"Six, but soon she'll be seven." He sighed sadly, his smile slipping away. "It's been months since I've last seen her."

"I'm certain she misses you as much as you miss her." Tasuki grinned. "Just think of all the stories you get to tell her once you get home."

Houjun smiled then, realizing the bandit leader was right. He could imagine Katsumi's face lighting up at the details of his adventures thus far. And now they were embarking on yet another quest, another trial for the Suzaku no Miko and her Shichiseishi, another chapter to his destiny.

*~~~*

Houjun listened as the wind howled through the mountains of Hokkan outside the yurt. He couldn't sleep. It wasn't the wind or the cold, but just a feeling, almost like...

Hotohori had stayed behind to maintain a strained peace between Konan and Kutou. The tension surrounding these two nations was threatening to snap and plunge so many innocents into an unwanted war. Houjun shuddered as he thought once again of his wife and daughter caught in the middle of this potential bloodshed.

Unable to lay there in the darkness of the yurt, Houjun went outside for some fresh air, wrapping the coarse wool blanket around his body as he crunched across the frosted ground. He took a few deep breaths, watching the steam as he exhaled misting over the bright, clear sky. He then noticed a flash of color off to his left and watched as Tasuki also emerged from the yurt he'd been staying in. The bandit slumped down to the ground, leaning against a tethering pole. Curious, Houjun went to him.

The bandit looked up at his approach and flashed a fanged grin. "Can't sleep either, huh?"

Houjun only returned with a gentle smile as he sat down next to his friend. After settling to lean against the pole as well and pulling the blanket tighter around him did Houjun finally turn to Tasuki.

"So, why can't you sleep?"

Tasuki shrugged. "Sometimes, ya just can't sleep no matter how hard ya try. Tamahome took off earlier with that kid he saved after the little brat had the nerve to make fun of me."

"Make fun of you?"

"He said my face was scary." Tasuki grunted as he punched the cold ground in anger.

"You can seem menacing at times, but your face isn't that bad." Houjun felt his face grow hot as he said this and then cleared his throat. "Maybe you're just exaggerating?"

"Why would I make up something like that?" Tasuki snapped.

"Perhaps you just don't like kids?" Houjun suggested.

Tasuki laughed. "I love kids." He paused a moment and placed his arms behind his head. "Tell me about your daughter, Katsumi."

Houjun watched his friend for a while, unsure of what was going through his mind. Tasuki just appeared so comfortable and Houjun just pursed his lips. "Why do you want to know?"

Tasuki shrugged again. "I dunno. Ya don't have to tell me anything if ya don't want to."

Houjun pondered this a moment and finally gave in. "I guess that Katsumi takes after her mother, in appearance. Lavender hair, fair skin. I don't know where she gets her personality, though."

Tasuki, who had closed his eyes, cracked one open. "What do you mean?"

"She's just a bundle of energy, very excitable, and unpredictable at times."

Tasuki chuckled. "Maybe she gets that from you?"

Houjun scowled at that. "I have never acted like that in my entire life."

"Not even when you were a kid?"

"Well..." Houjun felt his face blush as he thought about that.

"And don't make it sound like it's such a bad thing, being so carefree and innocent. You ought'a enjoy it because she'll eventually grow up and lose that."

Houjun gave off a half smirk at that. "You sound as if you know."

The bandit sat up a bit and looked Houjun squarely in the face, trying to appear menacing, but not hiding the smile playing around his lips. "And what if I do?"

A slight pause gave way to gentle laughter shared between the two friends as both men went back to leaning against the pole and enjoying the peace of the cold, sleepless night.

Tasuki then sighed. You want to know something that I've noticed about you, Chichiri? I've never seen you smile like that before.

Houjun peered at the younger man. What do you mean?

I mean that you got that look that I suppose all fathers do when their kids are involved. Not that I would know.

Maybe someday, you will.

Tasuki snorted. I doubt it. I love kids, but I can't see myself getting tied down with a woman.

You're young still, the older man murmured as he closed his eyes.

It's not that, Chichiri. I've just never been attracted to women before.

Houjun started at this revelation made by his friend and he turned to stare at Tasuki. What do you mean never been attracted'? He was reminded suddenly of the comment made by Tasuki when they had escaped Kutou and felt apprehensive.

There's just something about women, the redhead continued, oblivious to his friend's discomfort. Nothing against them, really, but if you were raised by my sisters, then you'd be put off too.

Tasuki sensed something different in the older man's tone and turned to face him, a frown on his face. I ain't like Nuriko, if that's what you're afraid of. I don't go chasing men around.

Houjun protested, waving off the bandit's ire. I just didn't realized and assumed Gomen. He looked down, ashamed for having judged his friend in such a way without fully contemplating the circumstances.

Tasuki reassured as the carefree grin returned. I get that a lot. You're not the first and I doubt you'll be the last.

Neither was aware of how much time had passed until the sky began to turn shades of pink by the rising sun. Both men stood and parted ways to retire to their respective yurts to begin another day of traveling. And for some odd reason, Houjun felt somewhat closer to the brash bandit leader than ever before by simply sharing that comfortable conversation and allowing his fear and apprehension over his family to be diminished with the presence of his friend.