Start Pt. 2
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Kei's POV
So where did it fall into place?
When did my life become okay?
I think the moment I met Tasuki, somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew things would, one day, be perfect.
I woke up next to Tasuki on Christmas morning. What a gift.
He woke up almost as soon as I did and greeted me with a kiss.
Damn, he's perfect. How does the perfect guy come out of a bandit who hated women?
Oh well, why should I care? It happened and I really don't care how.
Nozomi is gone forever. It makes me a little sad, but I'm starting to forget what it was like when I was with her in the 1st place. I don't remember what it was like to share a mind with a goddess. Is that supposed to happen?
But then again…I felt like I needed her because I couldn't share my feelings with others. Now, I guess I don't need her…
Looking back, I wonder if the whole thing was a dream…
Did I meet Tasuki somewhere else and imagine he was a bandit in an ancient Chinese world? No…then Jason, Lily and Taki wouldn't have those same memories.
It all happened…I really was thrown into a world of magic and warriors where I met the man of my dreams.
I walked out of the bathroom after finishing getting ready for the day. Chichiri and Lily were talking in the hall. They came home late last night after Tasuki and I were asleep. I smiled. Lily's happy again. Chichiri really is the perfect guys for her.
Funny…I never believed in soul mates or anything like that until I went to Konan.
Nuriko is perfect for Jason, Chichiri and Lily belong together, Hotohori and Taki…there was never any other couple that seemed more suited to each other in my mind. Then there's Tasuki and me. A very unlikely couple when we first met, but it worked. It worked better than any other guy I've been with that seemed much better for me.
I went downstairs. Hotohori and Taki were kissing in the kitchen. I smiled again. Jason and Nuriko were in the living room, watching Christmas specials. I always found those shows a little weird, even when I was little. Oh well, for some, it's tradition.
I went back into the kitchen to get breakfast, ignoring the kissing couple. I wasn't about to disturb them, I'd do the same if I were her.
Tasuki joined me at the table. "Hey."
"Hi." We ate quickly and went back upstairs. I cleaned up all my books from my bed and we sat there.
"Is this what you've been doing since you left?" He held one of my books.
"Studying? Yeah…I guess I just buried myself in the books to ignore the fact that I was so sad…" I took the book from him and sighed.
"Oh…" He looked sad.
"It's not like you had anything to do with it…"
"I guess…" He stared at me. I stared back. I still felt bad about lashing out at him. I didn't mean to…I just thought he wasn't real. "What?" He raised an eyebrow.
"N…nothing…I just feel bad about trying to smack you last night."
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault."
"I guess…" I murmured.
Tasuki took her hand. "Hey…let's not think about stuff like that. We're together again and we're staying this way."
I smiled. "You're right. That doesn't matter." I rested my head on his shoulder.
He wrapped his arms around me and I sighed happily. "Hey Kei?"
"Hmm?"
"I told you I'd still be here…"
"I know…I should have believed you before…" I rested my hand on his.
"Oh well, no real harm done." He leaned his head closer to my ear and whispered. "Merry Christmas."
I giggled. Hearing a former bandit say 'Merry Christmas' was kinda funny. "Merry Christmas, Tasuki."
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Narrator's POV
Later that evening, the whole group went to a Christmas Day party that an employee of Hotohori had thrown. Hotohori was now a big business man, the CEO of a large business empire. (Get it? Hmmm…lame attempt at a joke…yeah…anyway…)
This time Taki and Lily weren't moping around like they had been the night before. They were as happy and bubbly as many other people there. Kei and Tasuki found a quiet, secluded area to be alone in.
Kei's hair was pinned up on top of her head. She wore a floor length red evening gown suited for a Christmas party. She leaned against Tasuki as they stared out a window. "I don't remember the last time I was this happy…"
"How about the night before your birthday?" Tasuki slipped his arms around her waist.
"Well, there was that…and maybe the time I came back from the dead." She reached back and ran her fingers through his hair.
"That certainly was happy." Tasuki dipped his head to her neck and nipped lightly with his fangs.
She gasped. "You know, that's something to do in private, not at a party…"
"It's private over here." He murmured and nipped again.
"You never stop, do you?"
"You never want me to." He smirked.
"That's true…" She giggled.
Soft, slow music began to echo in the hall. Tasuki spun Kei around so she faced him. "Dance?"
"Sure." She smiled and let Tasuki take the lead.
They danced slowly, looking for their friends. Kei saw everyone at one point or another. She marveled at how happy they all were. Not that she blamed them mind you…
As the music came to a close, she and Tasuki were far from where they had started. He smiled. "Hey Kei."
"Hmm?"
"Look up."
She looked up and smiled. They were standing in a doorway decorated with mistletoe. "Shall we?"
Tasuki said nothing, he just closed the distance between the two of them and kissed her. He gently pulled her closer while kissing her. She draped her arms over his shoulders and let Tasuki do as he wanted.
After a few moments they let go of each other. They walked around the party hall, watching everyone. They stood on a balcony. Kei rested her head on Tasuki's shoulder and smiled. He slipped his arm around her waist.
"Hey Tasuki?"
"Hmm?"
"When did it all become okay? When did everything stop being bad?"
He looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean?"
"Mmmm…I'm not sure, never mind." She shook her head slightly. "Forget it…"
"No…what did you mean?"
"Um…I dunno…I was just thinking…all my life, I knew I'd die early, I just didn't know when. Then I met you…I kept looking for ways to stay around longer…now look at me. I'm alive, I'm happy, I'm in love…when did all that happen?"
"Hard to say…" He murmured. "When did you start trying to stay alive?"
"I dunno…I think when I admitted to myself that I loved you…" She blushed.
He smiled. "Well, then maybe that was it. If you had a reason to keep going…"
"I guess…"
"But then again, does it matter?"
"I guess not." Kei stared out side at the moon. "We're all here together and the book is sealed so it's not like there are anymore supernatural things in life to worry about."
"So let's just be happy and not worry, okay?"
"I can do that." Kei smiled.
Tasuki pulled her close and kissed her deeply.
While they were kissing, the others joined them up on the balcony. Tasuki and Kei parted when they finally noticed they were being watched. They stood in their own little ring and talked. They blended in quite well with all the happy couples.
Kei looked around at her friends and family and smiled to herself. 'Perfect. Just perfect. Everything is the way it should be. Life is perfect. Not many people get the chance to say that, but I can.'
Outside, a light snow fall began. A figure sat high on the roof of the building where the party was.
It was Nozomi. Her body seemed translucent in the night light. She held something in her hands. She smiled.
"My dear Kei…I'm happy for you. You are right. Not many people are able to say their life is perfect and mean it." She opened her hands. Two birds sat close together in her palm. The black bird and fire red bird Kei had seen many times before. "I hope you are always able to mean it. I put you through a lot in your life, though I never meant to…I hope Tasuki makes you as happy as possible and that your friends are happy as well…"
The birds looked up at her. Her fingers brushed over them before she held out hands. They took off, flying next to each other. Nozomi stood up and spread her own wings. She took off into the night sky towards the moon.
The birds landed in a tall tree on the edge of the park. They hopped into a small hole in the trunk and huddled close together.
The smaller black bird fell asleep while the red bird watched over her.
Kei smiled as she looked out the window again. She heard Nozomi's voice echo in her head. She knew in her heart that she'd always be able to say her life was perfect. Her life had been hell, but living through that made her stronger and brought her into her new life. She rested her head on Tasuki's shoulder again. He looked down at her and smiled. She smiled back.
(Screen slowly fades to black with everyone in the group smiling)
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The End (For real this time.)
And so ends my first fan fiction endeavor. I don't know if I'll ever write more FY fics, maybe someday I'll write about the group's kids if the inspiration hits me. The whole Christmas ending would have worked better if I didn't have my paper the month before Christmas. Oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes.
Now I must say my 'Thank you's:
Jaime and Kacie: The only people tell me what they thought of the story outside of reviews. You girls always encouraged me and helped me at a couple of times when I was stuck. I don't think I can thank the two of you enough, but I can try.
Otaku Pitcher: My first reviewer and the reason I went beyond chapter 1. You disappeared after chapter 9 and I can't help but wonder if you still read. I always looked forward to reading your reviews but you went 'Bye-bye'. What happened? If it hadn't been for you, there would not have been a story.
Skye-lark, Madiko, Lady Viola, Samantha, Ria, Animefan, Goku-chan, Wingsong, Usako, Wg14, ReI-142, Faeriesinger, Reno and Albert no Miko, MaroTapioka, Aelyaniara, Lanen, Tkawaii, Riina, Shareefa, Cat, Yvaellis, Machiavella, LanaPanther, Jbinky, TasNoMiko, Sugarpop, Meenakshi, Darke Angel, Embyr, rythamndsoul, Shadowysoul, SacredAngel, Songwind, NekoNoMiko, Ishi, Lindasy, and DragonOfDarkness: All my reviewers. If I forgot someone, words can't express how sorry I am. I appreciate the positive reviews and hope everyone liked the story. Repeat reviewers or not, everyone's reviews are important to me. Don't know how many of your are reading to the end, but thanks so much for keeping me going!
Bu-bye now!
~*~Shadow Hawk~*~
1/27/03