Most of you didn't tell me what you thought...GreenFire did, though, and Mangaland brought up a good point, too.
So, going by those things, I've decided...to let you read the chapter and find out which one I picked.
Thankyou thankyou thankyou to my reviewers! I love you guys!
Disclaimer: Can't you tell I don't own it? Tasuki and Chichiri aren't a couple in the series!
Warning: I'm getting really annoyed with writing this. If the shounen-ai content hasn't bothered you by now, then it probably won't.
-----------True Happiness------------
I sat in front of the large window, completely unaware that the sun was rising and painting the sky brilliant shades of red and orange. All I could think of was Tasuki: the look of horror on his face when he realized what he'd done, the dejected slump of his shoulders, the panic then sadness in his voice as he tried to apologize and told me how he felt, and...
The feel of his lips on mine...
How could it seem so real? It couldn't have happened.
Could it?
***
I ran down the hall without really noticing where I was going. This time I didn't take care to muffle my footsteps, and I think I may have woken Chiriko up. I didn't care.
How could I have been so stupid?
I cursed myself as I let my feet carry me wherever they wanted. I just knew that I was headed away from Chichiri, and that was enough.
'He must hate me now...'
'You don't know that. You didn't give him time to react.' To my annoyance, the voice at the back of my brain had returned.
'He pulled away! Don't you call that a reaction?'
'You surprised him.'
'Hell yeah. I surprised myself. I don't think he thought it was a good surprise, though.'
'You don't know.'
'Shut up.' I was not in the mood to talk with figments of my imagination.
***
Breakfast the next day was very quiet.
Tasuki wasn't there.
I wanted to talk to him. I needed to know what had actually happened in that room where I'd meditated. Had he even been there at all?
I don't trust my imagination.
After I had eaten, I went off looking for my friend. He couldn't be very far away.
At least, I hoped he couldn't.
***
The next morning, I woke up late. I'd spent an uncomfortable night in a small room at the western end of the house. At first, I was disoriented. My room was in the center of the house...what was I doing in the west wing, and in some kind of storage cupboard, to boot?
And then I remembered, and wished that I hadn't.
Chichiri.
What was I going to say when I saw him?
What was he going to say when I saw him?
'Maybe it would be better if I didn't see him,' I thought.
But how could I avoid that?
I smiled to myself. A bandit has ways...
***
I couldn't find him anywhere. I looked all over the house, and I didn't see him anywhere. Oddly, his chi seemed to be close to me all day.
I had the distinct impression that I was being followed.
I tried to act as though I couldn't tell that Tasuki was nearby, hoping that sooner or later he'd let his guard down, and I could see him.
Of course, I'd discounted the fact that he was a bandit.
***
The best way to keep someone from finding you is to keep an eye on them. So, all day long, I followed Chichiri around the house. I realized quickly that he was looking for me.
I'd just have to be more careful.
Luckily, this house had a ton of empty rooms I could duck into when Chichiri looked around.
I knew he could tell that I was following him. I'd forgotten about how he can sense chi once already, and look at the trouble that got me into. I wasn't about to make a mistake like that again. So I was aware that Chichiri knew I was there.
It was just another reason to be careful.
He wasn't acting as though he sensed me, but I wasn't fooled. I refused to let him trick me into carelessness even once.
It wasn't until I'd followed him for a while that I started to wonder.
Why was he looking for me?
***
He was good. I hadn't even gotten a glimpse of him once all day, and it was starting to make me mad. Why was he hiding, anyway?
Did he actually kiss me this morning?
It would explain his mysterious absence. Still, I couldn't quite believe that the kiss had been anything more than a dream I'd had after slipping off to sleep while meditating.
But Tasuki had never run away from me in a dream...and I had dreamed about him a few times.
All right, quite a few times.
All the same, he had run this time, and now he was hiding.
And I was getting annoyed.
***
I would have thought that he'd be avoiding me like the plague after this morning. Yet, here he was, looking for me. Chichiri wasn't the kind of person to go this far just to call someone a freak.
Chichiri wasn't the kind of person to call someone a freak at all.
So why was he trying to find me?
'He wants to talk to you,'
Damn. That stupid voice was back.
'I thought I told you to shut up...'
'You asked a question, and I answered. Is that a crime?'
I just shook my head. I was getting weirder.
***
I spent the whole day waiting for Tasuki to show himself.
He never did.
He was always there, though. I could feel him at the edge of my mind. I wanted to turn around and make him come out, but he obviously didn't want to talk to me. I didn't want to force him to do anything. So finally I gave up. I went to bed, though I felt sure I wouldn't sleep.
I was wrong on that. I was out nearly as soon as my head hit the pillow.
***
I followed Chichiri as he went back to his room. After he'd gone in, I listened at the door until I heard his breathing even out into the sound of sleep.
Slowly and noiselessly, I pushed the door open.
Chichiri was lying asleep on his bed, half-covered by the thin sheet that was standard in this part of Sairou. His mouth was slightly open, and his eye was closed softly.
I stepped over to the bed and pulled the sheet the rest of the way over him. Then, smiling slightly, I left.
I went to my room to lie down. I wouldn't sleep. I couldn't. But I had to rest, at least.
I watched the moon through my window, and the night wore on.
***
I only got a few hours of sleep. I tossed and turned the rest of the night, and again I rose before sunrise.
I needed to meditate.
I went back to the little room at the eastern end of the house. Today I would watch the sunrise, to make up for the one I'd missed yesterday.
Content, I settled myself in front of the window and began my breathing.
***
A little while before sunrise, I got up. I wasn't sure why, I just felt as though I couldn't lie there anymore. My feet seemed to know where I was going, and it wasn't until it was too late that I recognized my destination.
"Back again, Tas, no da?"
***
I patted the space beside me on the floor. Tasuki didn't respond, and I felt a flicker of nervousness in his chi.
"Come in, no da," I turned to him. The look on his face made me blink. He looked so...scared. "Please." I added.
He entered, and sat down in the chair at the back of the room, much to my disappointment.
"Are you angry with me, no da?" I asked.
He seemed startled. "Wha—Why would ya think somethin' like that?"
"You've been avoiding me all day, no da. I thought that I'd done something wrong."
Tasuki looked shocked.
***
What did he mean, had he done something wrong? I was the one who'd kissed him! Didn't he remember?
"Whatever it is, I'm sorry, no da. I don't want you to be angry with me."
"Ya shouldn't be sorry!" I exclaimed. "I'm th' one that should be sorry."
He looked confused. "Tas, what do you have to be sorry for, na no da?"
I was shocked. "This mornin'? I...well, don't ya remember?"
He looked surprised. "That—that really happened, no da?" he whispered.
I hung my head. I was just about to start apologizing again, when he continued.
"I thought I dreamed it, no da..."
My eyes widened. "Ya...y'dream about me?" I carefully kept my voice steady.
He blushed brilliantly. "Um...daaaaa..." He stared at the floor.
***
Why had I said that? Why did I tell him that I dreamed about him? My answer when he asked about it had just made the situation worse, but I couldn't help it. I can never keep my face from reddening when I'm embarrassed.
I turned away from him, trying to get my face back to its normal color.
I heard him get up from the chair and come up behind me. "Do ya really?" he said interestedly.
There went all chances of getting my normal coloring back. I nodded, my cheeks feeling as though they were on fire.
He turned me to face him, leaving his hand on my cheek for a minute after I'd turned. "What do ya dream about me?" he asked softly.
***
If the situation hadn't been so serious, I would have grinned as Chichiri's cheeks got even redder.
He's so cute when he's embarrassed.
I did smile a little. From the look on his face, I could guess what kind of dreams he'd had. He couldn't even meet my eyes.
I lifted his chin so that I could look him in the eye. "It's a'right. Ya don't have t' tell me."
I smiled at him, and he smiled slightly, too.
I let go of his chin. He turned away from me again, and after a few moments he spoke.
"Tas?"
"H'm?"
"Did...did you mean it...this morning, what you said..."
"Yeah," I nodded.
He faced me. "Good."
I looked at him; the expression he was wearing looked like someone on the edge of a cliff, about to jump, and unsure of what was going to happen. He just knew he had to do it.
"Because I love you too, no da."
***
Tasuki didn't just smile. His whole face lit up. "Chiri..." he said, pulling me into his arms.
I let my head rest on his shoulder, feeling for some reason as though I was going to cry.
Tasuki pulled back a little. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing, no da." I sniffled. "Everything's perfect."
He smiled and brushed away a tear. Then he leaned forward, just barely brushing his lips against mine. He started to pull away, but I leaned in and he stopped.
It was the way a first kiss should be, gentle, caring, sweet and just a little hesitant.
Never mind that it was our second kiss.
When Tasuki pulled away, he was smiling. I was, too. I could tell without even seeing myself that I was grinning like an idiot. It didn't matter.
Tasuki loved me!
But...
"Tas..." I didn't want to ruin the moment, but I had to know. "What...what about Nuriko, no da?"
Tasuki smiled sadly. "Yer wonderin' if I'm just on rebound, right?"
He didn't give me time to respond, which was good, because I didn't know how to respond to that.
"I broke up with Nuriko th' night before we found th' Shinzaho. I didn't love him like I thought I did.
An' the way I feel about ya is different, Chiri. It's...deeper'n what I felt fer Nuriko. I think I always loved ya, an' I just didn't realize it."
I didn't have to ask if that was true. The truth was right there, on his face.
I hugged him tightly.
"Chiri?"
"Mm hm?"
"I just got one question..."
I looked up at him. "What's that, Tas, no da?"
"Now can I call ya Chiri-chan?"
------Up on Mt Taikyoku----
Taiitsukun watched the spirit of a certain purple-haired seishi as he was sighing happily. "I just love happy endings, don't you?" he asked. "Particularly when I helped to bring them about."
The creator looked sternly at Nuriko. "If you ask me, you enjoyed being a voice in the back of their heads too much."
"Why are you using the past tense?" Nuriko asked warily.
"Your job is over now. You won't be doing it any more."
"Nani?" Nuriko said in disappointment. "But it was so fun!"
"You're going to stop now. You finished your work. It's time for you to be reborn."
"But...but things are just getting good!" Nuriko gestured to the mirror showing Tasuki and Chichiri.
Taiitsukun made the mirror go blank. "They'll be all right. I'll make sure of it."
Nuriko sighed. Then his eyes took on a mischievous gleam. "Ne, Taiitsukun-sama?"
"What is it, now, Nuriko?"
"Since I was such a good helper when you were trying to get Tasuki and Chichiri together, could I ask a small favor?"
"It was your idea to get them together in the first place..." Taiitsukun looked nervous. She had a pretty good idea of what the 'favor' Nuriko wanted was.
"Only because I knew how they felt about each other. Things like that are so obvious when you're dead, it's hard to see how you can miss them when you're alive. Anyway, you always want soulmates to get together, Taiitsukun, and I just pointed out a pair."
"All right, ask your favor."
Nuriko smiled brightly. "When I'm reborn, could I be a woman?"
Taiitsukun rolled her eyes. She'd known it. "You're already close enough. I suppose there's no harm in it." In truth, Nuriko's constant energy was starting to wear on the controller of the world. It was almost like having another Nyan-Nyan. If letting him be a 'her' when he was reborn was all it took to get him to move on, that was fine.
Nuriko's smile got wider. "Arigatou, Taiitsukun!!" he gave the old woman a hug. "Can you arrange it so I'm with Hotohori-sama?"
Taiitsukun sighed, freeing herself from Nuriko's grasp. "I'll try,"
'And heaven help Hotohori if you do find him,' she added silently.
----------Owari------------
Wahoo! I finished it!! I can't believe I made it all the way to a tenth chapter...
That last scene, with Nuriko and Taiitsukun was originally just going to explain the 'voices in the back of the head' thing. I don't know how it got longer...Nuriko made me do it! I'm sorry about making Taiitsukun so annoyed with Nuriko. It just doesn't seem like their personalities would mix very easily. I hope you liked the fic, and that I did ok on the get-together scene.
Now...what should I do for my next fic...
~Mikazuki
