The Never Aging Darkness By: Rika Hitoshi

Disclaimer - None of the Fushigi Yuugi characters or places belong to me. However, my own people do! At least I have something ^_^

Chapter 12 - Wounds

Chichiri turned around at hearing Kiki's voice and managed to just block the sword with his staff. Tsu took the opportunity to trip Chichiri and picked up the sword. Chichiri flipped over to see the sword pinned to his throat. "Looks like the tables have turned. Now you're the one pinned to ground with the your life in the balance of one swift movement. You should have just killed me when you had me down on the ground, but your not one to do that are you?" Chichiri glared into Tsu's eyes. Tsu looked over at Kiki who was still a little winded from extreme pressure her body had been put under. "How is it that you were able to break through my spell you little wrench? There was no way for you too. Your body was weak, Kyandee made sure of that." Kiki looked up at him without an answer.

Tsu did not have long to wait, for he was pushed onto the ground by Chichiri who knocked him out by knocking the handle of the sword into his gut. Chichiri stood up and walked over to Kiki. "Are you ok no da?" Kiki nodded as Chichiri helped her up. "I'm fine." her eyes widened, "Chichiri! Your bleeding." She pointed to a large gash on his chest. His shirt had been ripped durning the battle and it seemed the Ki blast had done more damage than he had noticed. Kiki glanced over at Tsu, "He'll be out for awhile so lets cover the wound up." Chichiri was going to protest a little when Kiki started going through a bag in the corner. "It seems Kyandee brought my stuff along with me." She came back carrying one of the lamps and a white box. She sat on the floor and opened the box taking several things out. "Sit down Chichiri, it's hard to do things like this standing up you know." She looked up at him smiling.

Kiki worked quietly on Chichiri's wound, disinfecting it and wrapping it up. "Are you sure your ok Kiki no da?" Kiki paused and nodded smiling, "Yes Chichiri, I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me, ok?" she continued wrapping the bandage around him when he grabbed her hand. Kiki felt her heart jump and race like before and she could feel her cheeks turn red. "Chichiri?" As she looked up at his face, she was surprised by his expression, "I do worry about you though and it's all I can do to protect you and make sure your safe. I love you Kiki and all I want is to be by your side, watching you smile and protecting you." Kiki felt her heart beat heavily in her chest and the words from her dreams came back to her. She understood what they were saying, but along with the words came the past.

All she wanted to do was answer him back, but she knew the answer would not be the one she truly wanted. Looking away she could feel her heart ache. "I-I I can't tell you the answer you would like to hear." Kiki felt his hand on her face and she looked back up at him. "I understand, that you were hurt in the past and don't want to feel that pain again. But I will never let feel that way." He smiled at her softly and she felt her tears fall down her face. "It wouldn't be my pain. I don't want to see you get hurt because of me." Before she could say anymore Chichiri leaned down and kissed her. Kiki felt everything fade away into nothing and only Chichiri and her were there. As they parted Kiki was going to say something, but Chichiri stopped her, "It wouldn't matter to me if I got hurt or not, as long as you were safe afterwards, that is all that would matter. To see your face and see you smile would be the greatest reward and the pain received in any battle would vanish." He looked at her with seriousness and Kiki knew that he meant it. She closed her eyes for a moment and then looked back at him, "Chichiri, I" she paused, "I love you Chichiri, more than anything. All I want to is to be with you."

The vow was broken and Kiki felt a new lightness enter her heart as they kissed again. There was a groan from the other side of the room. "He's waking up no da." Kiki looked over to see Tsu's hand move a little. "Let me tie this real quick then." She finished with the bandage and they stood up. "Come on lets get out here no da." They ran past him, but not without Kiki kicking Tsu in the head a few times knocking him back out. As they ran back down the corridor Chichiri noticed it was different than before. "Kyandee, she's taking us to her." Kiki looked up at him, "You mean." he nodded, "She changed to the path, it's straight now no da. Earlier there were other corridors leading in and out of this one no da. There are no other rooms either no da." Finally they came to an entranceway that led into a huge gallery.

Chichiri held his arm out to stop Kiki. "Wait here no da." Kiki looked up at him, "Why?" he looked out into the gallery, "If it's a trap there is a better chance of me being able to escape on my own no da. So just wait here for now and if Tsu comes." Chichiri paused. Kiki tilted her head a little, "If Tsu comes?" Chichiri turned chibi, "Just run or scream or something no da!" he returned to normal. Kiki nodded her head smiling, "Ok, but Chichiri," she looked up at him with concern surprising him a little, "be really careful, ok?" he nodded his head and put on his mask before heading out into the gallery.

The gallery seemed totally empty and Chichiri's footsteps echoed off the plain and empty walls. Chichiri was halfway through it when a light shined down on him. "Welcome Suzaku seishi! So glad you made it this far."