It took me a little longer to post this time. Gomen, gomen... I'm trying, ok?

I have reviews! I have a lot of reviews! ::jumps up and down:: Thank you!!

Disclaimer: I'd lend Chichiri to you, Xellas M., if he were mine to lend. Sadly, I don't own FY.

Warning: Fill it in yourself; you must know it by now.

--------True Happiness---------

"Ohayo, Chiri," I said sheepishly.

"Come in if you want to, no da." He still didn't turn.

I stepped into the room, and Chichiri patted the floor beside him. I obliged by sitting down beside him, full of a happy nervousness.

Now he turned to me, and I noticed that he wasn't wearing his mask. Because of this, I could see that he was smiling.

"Couldn't sleep, no da?"

I nodded. There were too many things bothering me for me to sleep.

Chichiri nodded. "I couldn't sleep, either, no da. Too many things bothering me."

I blinked. Had he just read my mind?

"What's botherin' ya, Chiri?" I hoped fervently that it wasn't something I'd done.

"Nothing important, no da."

"It must be important, if yer losin' sleep over it."

He shook his head. "It's nothing you should worry about, no da." He looked away from me.

Slightly offended, I moved so that I was directly in front of him. "Yer my friend, Chiri! If somethin's botherin' ya, I wanna help. I--" I cut myself off just short of saying something that I really couldn't say, if I wanted my first statement to stay true.

***

I looked at him curiously. What had he been about to say?

"A'course I worry when yer losin' sleep over somethin'." He finished quietly.

"Thanks, no da." I said softly. "But it isn't really something I'm ready to talk about." Especially not with you, I added silently. What would you think of me if you knew? "Anyway, that's why I came here to meditate, no da. It helps me to think through things more clearly."

He seemed to accept my explanation. He nodded. "When yer ready, though, just remember ya can talk t'me, ne?"

I smiled. "When the time comes, I'll tell you, no da." The time may never come, though. It's more important to me that you don't hate me.

"Well, good." He fell silent, then piped up, "Ne, Chiri?"

"Hm?"

"That meditatin' stuff..." he paused. "Is it jest fer monks, 'r can anyone do it?"

"Anyone can meditate, no da." I looked over at him, noting the traces of worry on his face. "Something on your mind, Tas?"

He smiled. "Nothin' you need ta worry about, no da."

I smiled back. "All right, no da. I know when I shouldn't ask any more."

He laughed. "I was serious about the meditatin' though. Uh...how d'you do it?"

"You just focus away from your thoughts. You should breathe slowly, and you may want to count your breaths to help you focus, no da."

He nodded. I was a little amazed that he could take something like this so seriously. He seemed like the type of person who wouldn't be particularly interested in spiritual things. Then again, he was a Suzaku Seishi. Maybe I underestimated him in that particular area.

***

It sounded easy enough, but not thinking is harder than it sounds. Trying not to think made me nervous. I decided I wasn't doing it right.

"Ne, Chiri?"

"Hm?"

"Um...how d'you stop thinking?"

He laughed. "Don't try to stop thinking, Tas. Let yourself think. Whenever you think about something, just sort of dismiss it. Tell yourself that whatever worry just popped up will work out, and that you'll think about the solution later."

With practice, I think I could figure out how to do that, and someday I probably will. But that was my first time meditating, and I just didn't quite get it. Maybe I was a little too nervous about being so close to Chichiri. I was sitting directly opposite him, my knees almost touching his. It was a little hard to focus on anything at the moment.

So, I settled for just watching Chichiri as he meditated. Oddly enough, that did calm me down. He looked so peaceful.

I think watching Chichiri must have hypnotic effect. Twice I caught myself leaning towards him.

The third time I didn't.

***

As I was meditating, I could feel something strange happening to Tasuki's chi. I've never been good at reading emotions through chi, but even I could feel the change. The meditation must be working.

From his chi, it seemed as though Tasuki had been lulled into a state of happiness and...something else I couldn't identify.

And then I felt something gently pressing against my lips.

I opened my eyes in surprise.

Tasuki was kissing me!

I admit it, in my shock, I think I 'eep'ed.

In my shock, I also pulled my head back, just a little.

It was enough.

Tasuki's chi returned to normal, and his eyes opened, then widened in horror.

***

I didn't realize I was kissing Chichiri until he pulled away from me. Suddenly I didn't feel calm at all anymore.

What had I done?

"Gods, Chiri, I'm so sorry! I never meant fer anything like that t' happen...I didn't want ya t'find out..." I turned and tried to leave quickly, but Chichiri was quicker. He grabbed my arm.

"Find out what, Tas?" His voice was calm, but there was an odd undertone of urgency to his words.

The use of his nickname for me reassured me enough that I could whisper the words I knew I had to say.

"I love ya, Chiri..."

***

He didn't turn around. His shoulders had taken on a dejected slump, and he whispered so quietly that I barely caught the words.

But I understood them.

In my surprise, I loosened my grip on his arm.

***

As soon as I felt his grip go slack, I pulled my arm away and fled down the hall. He didn't try to stop me.

I couldn't talk to him right now.

I ran away from the one I loved, heading towards my room. I didn't look back.

I couldn't bear to see the anger and revulsion I knew must be on his face.

------------To be continued...

I know you're all cursing me right now for what I did to Tasuki. Think of it this way: Chichiri suffers in "I Just Want Him to be Happy", so it wouldn't be fair if Tasuki got off easily...ok, that explanation was awful. I'll just say 'don't hate me too much,' ok?

I was going to write this chapter differently, with Chichiri stopping Tasuki and telling him how he felt, but when the time came, it just didn't feel right. So I wrote it this way. I know, it's horribly cliched, but I hope you liked it anyway.

Now, I want your opinion: Should Chichiri catch up to Tasuki in the hall, or should Tasuki successfully evade him for a while? Tell me what you think.

~Mikazuki