Disclaimer: I just own my original characters and the story. Also, any song lyrics I use belong to their writers/artists. I will post where I got them as well.

Notes: Okay, like I said, time for Chichiri stuff. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chichiri was walking down the halls of the palace to Lily's room. He wasn't totally sure about it, but he wanted to talk to her about her past and possibly his own. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lily was sitting next to her open window. Surprisingly, it was rather late. There was a nice cool breeze blowing in. She absent-mindedly put her hair up into a loose bun. She felt like it was only a matter of time before someone, Chichiri particularly, came to her door.

Almost as if on cue, someone knocked on her door. 'Called it…' "Who is it?" She really didn't need to ask.

"It's me, no da."

"Come in…" Chichiri stepped inside and saw Lily sitting by the window. "Hey Chichiri."

"Good evening Lily-san, no da."

"Chichiri, you don't need to be so formal with me." Lily turned and smiled at him.

Chichiri felt himself blush under his mask. He sat on her bed. "I know, but that is the way I am, no da."

"That's cool." Lily sat next to him. "Anything you wanted?"

"Ah well, I hope I'm not out of place asking this but…"

"You want to know about what happened to night my parents died, right?"

"Was it that easy to see, no da?"

"Sorta. I kinda expected it. Most people do wanna know what happened that night. I haven't told any one though."

"Not even Kei-san or Taki-san, no da?"

"No, I have yet to trust someone enough to tell them." She brought her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them. "It sounds kinda silly… I mean, it's been like more than 10 years and still, I'm the only one who knows what happened…"

"Do you trust me, no da?"

Lily raised her head in surprise and looked up at him. Chichiri had taken off his mask. He expected her to turn away or gasp or something like that, but she didn't. She reached out with her gloved hand and ran her fingers down the side of his face.

"What happened?"

Chichiri grabbed her hand and held it tightly. "Long story."

"Hmm…" She said nothing as she took off her glove in front of someone for the 1st time. Chichiri was a bit surprised to see a large scar on her hand that went from about the center of the back of her hand to the center of the palm of her hand. Whatever the wound had been, it had been serious and not taken care of properly.

"What happened?"

Lily smiled slightly as she tried to ignore tears forming in her eyes. "Long story."

Chichiri smiled slightly too. He gave into his urge to pull her into his arms and hug her. Lily was a bit surprised at first, but then leaned into his chest. It was very comfortable. She snuggled as close as she could to him. The closer she got the tighter he held on.

"You go first. I wanna know what happened." Lily murmured against his shirt.

"Alright, no da." Chichiri took a deep breath as he began his story. "It started with my engagement to a girl in my village…"

(AN: I'm only skimming over Chichiri's story 'cause I don't know every detail and I don't wanna screw it up and get someone mad or nothin' like that. If you don't know the story, go to anipike.com. It'll be on a web page somewhere there.) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kei was sitting in her room, looking at herself in the mirror. Huan-Lang sat at the edge of the dresser with his head resting on the top. Kei put her hand up against it and her image faded into what looked like a 25+-year-old version of herself. The hair on the back of Huan-Lang's back stood up and he growled softly.

Kei put her hand on his back. "Calm down boy…" He slowly relaxed. "What do you want?"

Hoshi-sama looked at her. "I want to do what I have to do."

"Not until I'm ready…"

"Kutou is planning to take you, because of me."

"Let them come. I'll be safe."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do." Kei glared at the goddess. "Now get out of my mirror. I need to fix my hair."

Hoshi-sama glared back and her image faded back into Kei's. Kei picked up a hairbrush and undid the braid her hair was in. The brush had no sooner touched her hair when Tasuki poked his head in her room.

"Hey, can I come in?"

Kei twisted around. "Oh sure."

Tasuki stepped in and walked behind her. "What's up?"

"Nothin' really." She set down the brush and stood up. "Whatcha want?"

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "To annoy you." He grinned.

Kei giggled and squirmed out of his grasp. "Should I let you?" She looked over at Huan-Lang. Surprisingly, he was quiet and didn't seem to care that Tasuki was there.

Tasuki pulled her onto the bed with him. She was sitting on one of his legs. "Actually, I got a question for ya."

She cocked her head to one side. "What is it?"

"About your stepfather…"

"I knew this was coming…" Huan-Lang hopped up onto the bed, putting his head on Tasuki's free leg, reminding him he was still there. "What do you wanna know?"

"Why'd you let 'im, ya know, do what he did? You could have fought back…"

Kei rested her head on his shoulder. "I know… It was a few things I guess. I was scared when I was younger…he could have easily killed me. Then as I got older, if I kept my mouth shut and stayed away from him, nothing ever happened. Now I don't live there, so why should I worry?"

Tasuki ran his fingers through her hair. "What about your mom?"

"What about her?" Kei brushed away a few tears.

"Don't cha worry about her sometimes?"

"Once in a while I guess. But I'd rather not…" Kei looked into his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell her what happened?"

"She'd never believe me… She doesn't think Shigeru can do anything wrong. Once or twice I asked her what she'd do if Shigeru did hit her or me."

"What'd she say?"

"She said there was no need to worry. He'd never do anything like that." Kei couldn't stop herself from crying now.

Tasuki gently wiped her tears with his thumb. He wrapped his other arms around her waist. "It's alright. Go ahead and cry…" He gently kissed the top of her head and held her as she cried. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chichiri had his face buried in his hands as he finished. "So that was the end. I left and then trained under Tai Itsukun for a few years, then Miaka came and I had to go with her, no da."

Lily hugged him for behind. She understood why he felt he had killed them. She felt the same way sometimes. "You want me to go now?"

He looked at her. "Do you trust me enough to tell me, no da?"

"Yes I do." Lily rubbed her hand as she took a deep breath. " I guess it started when I was little. My parents were always too busy to pay attention to me… It never really bothered me 'cause I got to do anything I wanted. Then when I was 8, there was something I wanted to do. I don't even remember what it was now…" She scoffed at herself. "Whatever it had been, I had been talking about it for weeks and when the night finally came, they weren't home and I didn't go. They came home from work as if nothing had happened… I wouldn't even speak to them.

"When they asked me what was wrong, I asked them if they had remembered what that night had been. They didn't remember. I was so mad, I ran upstairs to my room screaming at them. I wouldn't stop telling them how much I hated them and that I wished they were dead. I don't know what they thought of it, but they left me alone the rest of the night. I think they wanted it to blow over…

"That night, I kept wishing that something would happen to them. I thought they were terrible people and I seriously hated them."

"Did anything happen, no da?"

"Yeah…in the middle of the night, something made the house catch on fire. I remember running through the house looking for them. I forgot how mad I was."

"Did you find them, na no da?"

"Yeah…but they were already dead. As soon as I saw them, I thought it was my fault, that somehow, everything I wished for was true. The last thing I could remember before waking up on the hospital was getting hit with a falling beam from the ceiling."

Chichiri stayed quiet for a few minutes with her. "What happened?"

"Well, when I woke up, the first thing I asked for were my parents. All the doctors were quiet and one of the nurses told me they were gone. I didn't want to believe it. I mean, who would? For the next few weeks, I blamed myself for the fire and I still do. I think, if I hadn't been so mad at them, would they have died that night? What would have happened?" She held back her tears and took another deep breath. "The police decided that the cause was arson 'cause they found some guy that admitted to setting house fires around town. Everyone accepted that but me."

"Why not? It seems logical, no da."

"Yeah, it did but my problem was that he admitted to every fire except mine. After that, I believed that I had something to do with it. That something I did caused something to happen. I couldn't believe what a terrible person I was. I still am. Nothing anyone told me could change my mind."

"Lily, you aren't a bad person and you had nothing to do with the fire, no da."

"I'd like to think so but I never could shake the feeling. The reason I never took care of the burns on my hands was because I didn't want to forget what I had done. I didn't want people always asking so I started wearing gloves all the time. I told people it was fashion, even if that wasn't true…" She leaned into Chichiri and cried into his shirt.

Chichiri gently rubbed her back. She really could understand how he felt about his friend. He was surprised at how such a strong girl like Lily could break down and cry. He never would have guessed that Lily had a story like she did.

"Lily, you had noting to do with your parents death. It was just a strange coincidence. And anyway, if they hadn't died, would you have met Kei and Taki? Don't you think everything happens for a reason, no da?"

Lily took her head off his chest and locked eyes with him. She had never been this close to a guy before. She felt a very strong connection to him at this moment. "I think I'm starting to…"

"Really? Even coming to Konan, no da?" Chichiri couldn't stop himself from moving closer to her.

"Uh-huh… I think so." Lily's inhibitions screamed at her to back off, to stand up, to do anything that would stop her, but she pushed them all way and leaned into Chichiri again. Her eyes slowly closed.

Chichiri closed his eyes (AN: I would say 'closed his eye' but that sounds weird.) and pressed his lips to hers. Lily wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned back as Chichiri pushed her back into the bed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lily's POV

As soon as he pushed me back, I knew it was all over. I don't have the will to fight, nor do I want to. I never expected, well that's not totally true, him to do this but hell, it feels good. His weight is comfortably press against me. I never pictured myself kissing anyone, so why am I now?

He's the first guy, hell person, I've ever told my story to. I haven't even known him that long. Do things really happen for a reason like he said? Or is this just a coincidence? I really hope that I was meant to do this. I want it to be right, but for all I know this is wrong.

I don't really care though. His body is pressed against mine in the most comfortable way. I love him…er… it. Yeah, that's it. I don't love boys. Then again, Chichiri is a man, not a boy. Oh hell, look what he's done to me… Then again, I didn't fight, so who am I to say anything?

Damn… He is a surprisingly good kisser. I didn't expect him to be good at it, I mean, he is a monk right? Then again, he is still a man…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chichiri's POV

I'm not totally sure what I'm doing now, but Lily doesn't mind… I really expected her to back off, to stand up, to do anything that would stop me from going this far, but it was like she wanted it. So who am I to deny her anything?

I never expected myself to ever kiss another woman, not after what happened with my fiancé, but I can't deny the fact that I do have strong feeling for her, and, though I'm ashamed to admit it, I want her.

I think I totally lost control of myself because I heard her gasp when my right hand brushed over the front of her body. I hadn't meant to touch her, but I did. I look at her, expecting a frown or a smack in the face.

She wasn't mad though. She was breathing hard, but smiling. She was smiling?! I never expected that. Her voice broke my train of thought.

"Chichiri, what the hell are we doing?" She has a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

I smile back. I'm breathing as hard as she is. "I really don't know, no da."

"Good, 'cause neither do I." She grinned and pulled me back to her.  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lily's POV

Chichiri didn't pull back when I pulled him back. This time he was a little bit more forceful. I like it. He pulled me up into a sitting position.

I wonder if he started to develop an obsession with my hair, 'cause I felt his hands run thought my hair over and over again. Even while I had been talking, he'd been doing that. Not like it was bad though. The bun I had put in before he came in fell out and his fingers went deeper into my hair.

I wondered if I had died and gone to heaven when I felt his tongue try to enter my mouth. His fingers traced little patterns down my back that made me moan. My lips parted and he took the opportunity. God, it feels good. I don't want it to end, but I know it's going to. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Narrator's POV

Chichiri slowly ended the kiss, trying to make it last as long as possible. Lily was disappointed that it had to end. He slowly stood up. Lily's hand shot out and grabbed his arm.

"Don't go…"

"I really should, na no da."

"Please don't. Just stay till I fall asleep, please." Lily looked at him with pleading eyes that he couldn't resist.

"All right."

Lily moved over on her bed so Chichiri could sit down. She rested her head in his lap. Chichiri began running his fingers through her soft, golden hair again. It didn't take her long to fall asleep and Chichiri was about to leave when he heard her softly murmur his name in her sleep.

Chichiri felt the need to stay, just for a little while longer, but he ended up falling asleep sitting up against the wall with Lily sleeping in his lap.

Taki was passing by Lily's door and slowly opened it to ask Lily if Chichiri had been in to talk to her. She was surprised when she saw them sleeping together.

"Well, I'll be…" Taki smiled and quietly closed the door so she didn't wake them.

"You'll be what?" Taki gasped and turned around to find Hotohori standing behind her.

"Nothing." Taki sighed. "Walk me back to my room?" She smiled at him.

"Of course." He smiled and walked down the hall with her.

As they passed Kei's room, Taki noticed the door was open and she stopped.

"You wanna check on her?" Hotohori stopped beside her.

"Yeah, hang on." Taki peeked in. She almost screamed when she saw Kei sitting in Tasuki's lap and Tasuki was kissing her. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Taki's POV

It took all my self-control not to say or do something at that moment. I don't know what came over the two of them, but I don't think Tasuki left any part of Kei's face and shoulders untouched. I knew she liked him, but that much?

I pulled my head out as quickly as I could without making a noise and Hotohori saw my red face.

"What's wrong?"

I pulled him further down the hall in an attempt to calm myself. "Nothing." My voice cracked really badly. I was so embarrassed at seeing my best friend kissing.

"If nothing's wrong, why did your voice crack?" He was smirking at me! He knew I was lying. I figured that.

"Fine. When I looked in Kei's room, she and Tasuki were kissing like there was no tomorrow. Not the kind of thing I planned on seeing…" We were on our way back to my room again.

"Well, they do like each other. Maybe it's going further."

He's right. I know they like each other. They're both too stubborn to admit it though. "Maybe…I wonder…"

"Wonder what?"

…If something will happen between us… "Nothing. Never mind. It isn't important." I want to have something happen with Hotohori and me, but I'm still scared.

We reached my room. I really don't want him to leave, but you expected that, right? I like spending time with him. I like him too. I think he wants to stay too, since he isn't really moving. I'm not really sure what to do.

"Would you like to come in for a bit?" My mouth opened before I could stop it.

"If you don't mind…" I moved from the door and let him in. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Narrator's POV

Taki and Hotohori stood in an awkward silence for a few seconds. Taki sat at her dresser to try to stop her self from looking at him. He sat on her bed, which wasn't to far from her.

Taki rested her hand closest to him on the table. Hotohori laid his hand over hers. She looked at him and smiled and blushed a bit. He smiled back. The silence was welcome now. Neither one wanted to break the moment.

Taki turned her hand over and locked fingers with Hotohori. Wordlessly, she moved from her dresser to the bed, right next to Hotohori. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Taki?"

"Hmm?" Her eyes were closed and she was smiling.

"Is this a dream?"

Taki's eyes met his. "I hope not. If it is, I don't want to wake up…"

"Neither do I."

Hotohori lowered his lips to hers, hoping this would be better than the last time. Taki nervously kissed back, then got into it. Hotohori's hands moved from her shoulders to her waist. Taki's hands gripped his shoulders.

This kiss wasn't as long as their first, but it just seemed better. As Hotohori pulled back, he prayed that Taki wouldn't cry.

She looked into his eyes. He noticed that her eyes weren't the same icy blue they were when he met her. They were more of an ocean blue, like when she was younger. She smiled at him.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Nothing really. Just being here for me. For everything you've done for me." Taki hugged Hotohori.

He smiled. "Always, Taki. I'll always be here for you." He lightly kissed her forehead and got up to leave after putting her to bed. "Good night."

"Good night, Hotohori." Taki fell asleep almost as soon as he left.

Hotohori had to pass by Kei's room on the way to his. Before he got to it, Tasuki came out quietly. Tasuki saw Hotohori.

"Oh, hey. Good evening Hotohori." Tasuki nervously laughed.

"Evening Tasuki. How's Kei?"

"She's good…" 'At kissing…' "She just fell asleep."

Hotohori couldn't resist his urge to chuckle at how nervous his fellow teammate was. "I could under stand why she was tired…"

Tasuki swallowed hard. "Whadaya talkin' 'bout?"

"Tasuki, Taki saw you and Kei kissing a few minutes ago…" Hotohori smiled again.

"Oh jeez…" Tasuki scratched the back of his head.

"I won't say anything."

"Ah…thanks sir." Hotohori and Tasuki went their separate ways, both thinking about the time they had just had with the girls they liked. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sorry for how long this one took. FF.net was broken so that wasn't my fault, for once...

Ah, I am currently in the process of rewriting ch.3 and ch.4 so they'll look like the rest of the, so I hope to get that up soon.

Next time I update, it won't be a new chapter, but rather major rewrites. When they are up, definitely reread them. They are going to have a major over haul. Until next time!

~*~Shadow Hawk~*~