Disclaimer: Don't own Fushigi Yuugi, or I'd be married to Tasuki about now.

Chapter Eight: Pre-Christmas

Miaka wriggled in protest as the blanket was slowly pulled off her. She opened one eye to glare sourly at her best friend, mightily annoyed and not even trying to hide it. Yui shrugged.
"You need to wake up sometime," she reasoned sweetly. The glare turned from low heat to full-blown furnace.
"Not movin'," the redhead grunted, trying to grab the blanket before it was jerked away. She was too slow.
"Get up." The merciless blonde returned to the kitchen, where running water sounded. Miaka pouted at her retreating back as she grabbed the blanket. Like she was going to stay awake when she was this tired!
Plan now in mind, she crawled over to the man lazily sprawled on the sofa. She planted her hands on his knees and pushed herself up to snuggle into his lap, happily pulling the blanket around them both. He froze and looked down at her with a mixture of amusement and something else she wouldn't want to put a name to—not in her current 'Tasuki-is-my-best-friend' state of mind.
"There," she grinned, impishly gleeful.
"YUUKI MIAKA!" came the frustrated yell. "Get off his lap and get dressed!"
"Nah, that's all right," her new bed called out calmly. "If she's sleepy, may as well let her sleep now 'steada havin' her sleep in the middle of the party tonight."
An impassive face appeared over the divider, arching a brow at the lazy chit in his lap. Her bone structure was well suited to indifference or cool elegance; the haughty tilt of her chin and lifted brow would have had her childhood companion hiding under the covers. That was probably why she was hiding her face in the crook of the man's neck, instead. "Drop her if you need to go to the bathroom," Yui finally stated, her tone brooking no argument. Tasuki bit back a grin and nodded.
"Sure," he agreed laconically, wrapping his arms around the girl stifling giggles, curled up like a child. His eyes were caught by a flash of orange, and he looked down in surprise. Despite the cherry red pajamas, her auburn hair, and olive skin, she had painted her toes a bright, cheerful tangerine.
Those cute little toes wriggled as though she sensed his gaze, and she curled her feet out of his view. He bit back a laugh and asked—with just a touch of inquiry—"What's with the polish?"
"Mmmf," was her answer. She nuzzled firmly against his shoulder, as though to say 'stop talking, go to sleep'. He kissed the top of her head, pulling her close, perfectly willing to enjoy her proximity as long as he was able to keep it.
Even the mouth-watering aroma of freshly brewed coffee wasn't going to budge him from the sofa. Not as long as his woman had her arms wrapped around his neck, her breath coming in regular intervals against his skin. She was already asleep.
Yui padded into the room once again, handing him a mug of coffee, then turning her attention to the second man on the couch. Flipping through a magazine, he hadn't shown the slightest curiosity over the events that had occurred. Tasuki was faintly surprised that Shannon had dragged Andy out the door with her, despite his protests (though they had seemed half-hearted at best), yet had allowed the blue-haired one stay. Indeed, she'd fairly pushed him back to the couch before storming out the door, ex-singer in tow. Definitely curious behaviour, he thought. Makes no sense at all.
"Sugar or cream, for either of you?"
Tasuki shook his head. "Nah, black is fine." He gulped some down and bit back inventive curses as the liquid scalded his tongue. Damn. He stuck his tongue out into the cool air, crossing his eyes to see if he could inspect the damage that way. No luck.
"Chichiri?" she prompted.
"Two cubes of sugar, if you would," he requested, looking at his sofa companion oddly. He seemed to be somewhat resigned, if greatly amused. "You knew it was just made," he pointed out.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Growling a little, he set the heavy mug to the side. Perhaps he'd just wait for it to cool down a little.
Miaka shifted in his lap, and his mind went from how his tongue felt to what his tongue wanted to be doing. Damn it, Tas, it ain't right to be thinking that while she's sleeping on you. In an innocent way. He touched his tongue to the roof of his mouth, wincing at the rough feeling. Besides, you won't be doing that for a little bit yet. "What are ya lookin' at?" he groused as Chichiri continued to watch him with a slight half-smile.
"Nothing in particular," he lied, glancing toward Miaka. Then he smiled warmly at their hostess as he stirred the sugar into his coffee.
She smiled perfunctorily, collapsing into an over-stuffed, faded armchair. "We were up late last night talking," she motioned to her friend. "Maybe a little too late. Ah, well. Sorry for Shan-chan leaving so suddenly, but she has a final in..." a quick glance at her watch, "...ten minutes."
"Oh? Do you not, then?" Chichiri asked curiously. She shook her head.
"Nope. Miaka and I are done for the week, but we need to start hunting down a job. Bills don't pay themselves, and all that."
"Says la vie," Tasuki quipped.
"C'est la vie," Yui corrected with a quick laugh. "Guess you never took French?"
"Nah. Never had much need to." He shrugged. "I'm not a foreign language type of guy."
"Pity. Many teachers here are also hired at the Defense Language Institute, and so the foreign language courses are quite good," the azure-haired man pointed out quietly. Yui blinked in surprise.
"Are they really? I never knew. I know the DLI is near, but it didn't occur to me that the professors there would be teaching at the colleges, too. I guess it makes sense, though."
"The thought of some shaved-head GI teachin' me the basics of French would have me runnin' in terror," Tasuki replied dryly. Chichiri chuckled.
You are certainly one to jump to conclusions. The professors are not military personnel. They are civilians."
"Jump to conclusions!" he exclaimed. "I'll have you now that I—" a slender finger pressed against his lips, stopping his tirade. He frowned down at Miaka, who obviously didn't like people talking too loud while she slept. The frown softened, and he kissed the pad of her index finger gently before looping her arm around his neck.
The action didn't go unnoticed by the other two, though the sleeping beauty simply snuggled closer, oblivious.

*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`

"This isn't a party, it's a damned circus," Tasuki muttered into her ear. She giggled, rolling her eyes at him playfully.
"You're just sore because that gorgeous man greeted you with a kiss," she pointed out easily, leaning against a convenient counter. She smiled brightly at those who passed by, all the while trying to soothe her date's temper.
"I happen to prefer tongue from the opposite sex," he said with great dignity, the effect only slightly marred by his need to raise his voice to be heard over the blaring music. Miaka laughed at him, shaking her head.
"Well, there have been no less than three—yes, three—propositions from women here, you know," she finally gave in kindly. "And you turned all of them down. No wonder you're not getting any 'tongue', as you quaintly put it, from anyone."
"That's because I have a date, and I don't take my dates lightly." He rolled his eyes at her lighthearted laughter and took a deep pull from the beer in his hand. When he nearly choked because of someone pounding his back, she burst into joyous laughter once again.
"Chichiri, be careful," she cautioned, giggling.
"Too late for that," Tasuki muttered. His words only served to nudge Miaka into another fit of giggles.
"Sorry about that, you know?" Chichiri chirped brightly, his eyes twinkling with almost malicious amusement. Since this morning, the two men had become as close as they had been in the Universe of the Four Gods, something that warmed their priestess's heart. Once again, the monk balanced Tasuki's fiery personality.
"Hah," came the reply, along with other rude adjectives. Yui's bright voice slid into the conversation easily as she sauntered along, winking at Miaka.
"Now, now, boys, play nice," she cautioned, dumping a surprise passenger onto the ex-bandit's shoulder. Angel mewed and immediately began to bat at his hair, already her favorite toy.
"Don't see why ya had to bring that animal," he grunted, turning his head sharply to scowl down at the kitten.
"She was lonely!" Miaka grinned at Yui's words, offering her a sip from her water glass. "Besides, Mia here would probably have thrown a fit if you ditched the cat on your second day of having her."
"Hah," he repeated sourly.
Chichiri grinned. "Ah, Tasuki, you know you want to be her personal walking litterbox!"
"Litterbox?!" As he looked over his shirt in panic, the other three laughed at his expense. He scowled at them all, lingering somewhat on Miaka. "Hey, isn't my date supposed to be on my side? I can see Yui siding with Lord Humorous here, but..."
"Hey, who are you calling names?" the monk protested
"...I'd think you'd at least be loyal to the man who drove you here." He flashed his fangs in a quick grimace. "I can't believe I've been overthrown by a blue-haired—"
"He has a cute butt, what can I say?" She shrugged with marked indifference, though her eyes sparkled merrily.
"And I don't?" Tasuki demanded in mock anger. The lazy gleam in his eyes caused his date to blush in confusion, and stare at the glass in Yui's hands.
"Ah, yes, well, about that—" she began nervously.
"Women aren't supposed to compliment their dates," her best friend rescued her. "Men are supposed to do that. Don't you know anything?" She punched his shoulder playfully, before setting the now-empty cup on the counter. "Come on, Miaka, let's leave this un-complimenting men to their own devices." She stuck her nose in the air in a great show of haughty pride as she dragged her friend into the mass of humanity people charitably called a party.
Both men watched their dates leave, one with frustrated amusement and the other with blank astonishment.
"I was supposed to compliment her?" Chichiri asked plaintively. "She could have told me that, you know."
Tasuki eyed his new companion oddly. "You're a scary man, Chiri. Really scary."

"I think Shan-chan was over here somewhere, arguing with Andy. Did you notice that they haven't been apart for a single minute since they came in here?" Yui glanced at the redhead curiously. "I mean, for a good ten minutes he was hanging around you, which wasn't surprising, but she seemed to drag him off as soon as possible. If I didn't know any better..."
"She definitely likes him," Miaka butted in with a grin. "I'm so glad, too. I loved Hotohori as much as I was able, though it wasn't enough for him then... and it wouldn't be enough for him now. If we can just get those two together, though—!"
"She'd kill us if she knew what we were talking about, you know. The woman has so much stiff-backed pride it's scary. But she just can't keep away from the man, either." Yui's eyes widened as she pointed to the dance floor. Although a briskly paced song was playing, a raven head was resting comfortably against a broad chest... and long, honey-brown hair mingled with ebony tresses as the two danced to a tune only they could hear.
"Ohmigod," Miaka whispered, backing slowly away. It wouldn't do if they were seen. "Wasn't the last slow song like... fifteen minutes ago?"
"More like twenty," Yui replied in the same hushed tone. "I believe we have progress."
"Hmm, yes. Speaking of which..." The redhead glanced speculatively at her childhood friend as they snuck over to a table which—conveniently—had a perfect view of her seishi and his dance partner. "Did I see you and Chiri getting a little close on the dance floor?"
Unaccountably, Yui blushed, dropping a napkin she'd been toying with. Half amused and half mortified, she looked sternly at her friend. "Just because Shannon had to go and get attracted to one of your seishi, it doesn't mean I'm doing the same, Miaka," she lectured firmly. "If you have to know, I was trying to ask him about his job, but since it was so loud, I had to shout in his ear."
"His job, huh?" Accepting the explanation reluctantly—the thought of her best friend and her confidante in a relationship was an endearing one—her friend glanced over her shoulder in an attempt to find the monk. Failing, she asked, "So... what does he do?"
"He's one of those child counselors. He works with Mitsukake in the hospital with the little ones." Yui smiled warmly. "They both must be wonderful with children, with their patient natures."
Tilting her head, the former priestess of Suzaku thought it over. "It's so easy to think of Chichiri as a counselor," she said finally, and laughed. "Really, that's part of what he did in the book, so..."
"Yeah, I know. I read about it, remember?" She smiled. "They are all almost exactly the same as they were when you left them, aren't they?"
"Yes." Shadows chased the light in her jade eyes, and the smile became a little fixed. "The only difference is that they are adapted to life here. It's like nothing changed. Isn't that odd, though? Even Taka had several differences between him and Tamahome, from living a different life. I wonder..."
"What?" the blonde prompted gently, reaching over the tabletop to rest her hand comfortingly on her friend's.
"I wonder... if the reason they have amnesia is because they didn't actually grow up here? Although some of them had jobs to pick up... I wonder if it's only because things were tampered with. They're too similar to the seishi I left in the book. But if they were sent here, why don't they have memories of me? And... why are they here?"
"Hey, Miaka! Yui!"
The cheerful voice had both women turning, smiles of welcome already gracing their lips. Nuriko bore down on them determinedly, her eyes laughing. "Why aren't you dancing?" she demanded. "Look—Hotohori and Chiriko are dancing. Even Mitsukake is dancing!"
Unable to hide her curiosity, Miaka peered over the dance floor. Her eyes widened at the sight of the studious man dancing to a well-known pop song with a woman whose hair was a hideously dyed green. Talk about holiday fever.
"Our dates ditched us," she explained absently. Nuriko snorted.
"You mean you ditched them so they could cat-sit, don't you? Besides, who dances with their dates at a party? Look at all those men salivating over you!" She pointed in the direction of said men imperiously. "Now come on—you're all going to have fun if I have to kill you to do it!"


IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — I would like to take the time to extend my thanks to KittyLynne. First for author's inspiration; the idea of a Yui/Chichiri pairing comes from HER and her story, 'The Promise'. (For Tas/Mia fans who haven't yet read it, YOU SHOULD. It's the best! Believe me, you will NOT regret taking the time to hunt it down. XD It's here on FF.net) Second, because she agreed to help me through any difficulties I may come up with. *swoons, star-struck* Arigatooooooooooooou KittyLynne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ (She's my idol XD)

CJ's Blurb: Whew, another update. This one should make up for the shortness of the last chapter (though this is pretty short too, really...) — Anyway, I tried to get this out to give me breathing room for a possible Christmas special. No guarantees on it coming out on Christmas Day, but it should be out by the end of the week. It's pure WAFF and funny-cuteness, so I hope you will enjoy. ^_^ Happy holidays everyone, and have a beautiful Christmas. Don't forget to tell your family that you love them!