New Life Old Bonds
By Babbling Brook42
Rating: R – for language
Disclaimer: See Prologue
Japanese words uses:
Hai – Yes
Itai – An Exclamation
Kuso, K'so – Swear word similar to "shit" or "bloody hell"
Baka – idiot
Thanks to Moonlady for beta-reading for me.
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Chapter 9 – Learning of the Past (Houjun's POV)
Something is wrong, and I am being called. I close my eyes and concentrate on where the pull is from. I wrap the kesa around me before picking up the kasa, putting it on, and disappearing.
I materialize in a hospital hallway. Genrou is shouting at a tall doctor.
"Suzaku help me! Mits, I don't give a damn fuck if you remember or not, but you have to come else our Miko will die," Genrou growls.
Miaka!
"Kou-kun, clam down. You are excited and maybe slightly delusional," the doctor says.
Genrou pushes the man toward a door.
"Just see her, damn it!"
The doctor moves only slightly in the direction that Genrou is directing him.
"She has her doctors looking after her," the tall man says.
"But you can save her!" Genrou sounds like he is on the verge of tears. He looks up as Taka enters. "Tamahome, help me get Mits to come."
"Please, see to my wife," Taka pleads. "Please help Miaka."
The doctor grumbles, but gives in to the request. He follows Taka through the doorway, and Genrou sags with relief.
"Remember your gift, my friend. Remember your gift," he mutters.
"Genrou," I voice.
He looks over at me. There are tears glistening in his eyes. Suddenly his arms are around me in a crushing hug. His head tilts down to contact my right shoulder.
"Chichiri," he softly cries. "Damn it. We can't loose her. Not now. Not when we just found her."
His breathing hitches while he talks. I wrap my arms around him and close my eyes. My hands tenderly stroke his back. My soul insists I comfort him as his tears soak into my shirt. It shouts that he is mine – past, present, and future – and must be cherished and loved.
I lean my cheek against his silky hair and whisper in his ear.
"It will be all right. Why don't you tell me what's going on?"
His crying ceases, but he does not loosen his hold. The fingers of my right hand delve into his thick mane. They draw smoothly from his left ear to the base of his neck. I tilt my head and place a gentle kiss by his other ear.
"What is wrong with Miaka?" I ask.
His reply is cut short as two men hurry toward us.
"Tasuki," the purple haired one calls worried. "Where's Miaka?"
Genrou looks up at the voice.
"Nuriko!" he sighs.
I scrutinize the hauntingly familiar newcomers. Nuriko is a mix between beauty and strength – male and female as he purposefully glides to our side. His gender bending attire accents his best points to the fullest. He tosses his long purple braid over his shoulder when he stops with an impatient gasp.
The second man was just as stunning decked out in dressy casual ware. But, I see him dressed in red robes with his long brown hair falling down his back.
He is the same man from the memory at the museum.
As I should expect with anyone associated with Miaka, they are unique and probably carry a symbol somewhere on their body.
"What are you doing here?" Genrou asks them.
"We were called," Nuriko answers.
Genrou accepts the answer.
"Where is Miaka and is she all right?" Nuriko demands.
Genrou pulls away from me but keeps one arm around my waist. Nuriko notices.
"Ohh, I always knew you two would pair up," he giggles.
"Don't you fucking start on that, Nuriko," Genrou growls.
"Well, spill – about Miaka, you can tell me about this later," Nuriko smiles and waves a hand at us.
"Let's sit down," he says dragging me with him to one of the waiting rooms.
Doukun sits there waiting for us.
"I deduced that you would take refuge here at some point," Doukun says smiling at us in a warm greeting.
"Chiriko!" Nuriko squeals delighted.
"Nuriko, good to see you again," he affectionately acknowledges. "You too, Hotohori."
Hotohori smiles and nods as he takes a seat.
Genrou pulls me onto one of the couches and holds my hand tightly.
"Something went wrong with the delivery. The baby is all right, but something is wrong with Miaka," he tells us.
I look around the room realizing the Miko's protectors have gathered in her time of need.
"I found Mits, and Tamahome took him to see her. But, damn it, he doesn't remember," he cries clinging to my arm.
"Pray to Suzaku he does," Doukun says. "Maybe seeing Miaka again will reawaken his memories of the past and his power."
I listen closely to the conversation adding more pieces to my picture of the past.
"Although meeting Miaka has not been enough to bring forth the memories for some of us," Doukun states and looks at me.
Nuriko's soft brown eyes focus on me.
"Chichiri, have you remembered?" he asks.
Genrou freezes beside me as he is reminded of what he forgot in his worry over Miaka.
"I remember my magic. I remember Genrou was my lover and is my soul-mate. I have pieced enough oddities and comments together to have an idea about our past life, but the majority of my memories have not returned," I answer.
They don't look happy about my answer but relieved with my acceptance of the situation.
"I still want a long detailed recount when our current crisis is over," I say.
"You got it," Genrou says suddenly hugging me.
Moments later the tall doctor enters the room. We all hold our breath as he sags into a chair. He rubs his temples then smiles at us.
"Tasuki, Chichiri, did you take care of Tama for me?" he asks.
"Hai, we did," Genrou answers grinning.
"Mits, you remember!" Nuriko exclaims.
"Yes, Nuriko, I remember," he answers.
"That means Miaka is saved," Nuriko happily bubbles.
"You do remember all?" Chiriko asks. "Do you accept it?"
The doctor chuckles kindly.
"Oh Chiriko, when just a touch from my glowing hand healed a dieing woman, how can I dispute the memories that preceded it?"
"What made your memories return?" Hotohori asks while Nuriko and Genrou rejoiced the good turn of events by dancing around cheering.
"Seeing Miaka on the table reminded me of Choukou, and I knew what I had to do. As the power flowed through me, I relived my other life." He pauses and looks at the dancing bakas. "Would you two please not yell," he softly requests of Nuriko and Genrou. "I just had memories of another life crammed into my head. Not the most coherent experience of my life. I feel like I spent the night drinking with Tasuki." He grinned good-humoredly at Genrou.
"Sure, sure," Genrou says happily. "When can we see her?" he asks.
"Probably not until tomorrow, but you can see their daughter in the nursery if you like," Mits answers.
We take a peek at the newborn before calling it a night. Mits promises to inform Taka that we left but will be back tomorrow. Nuriko and Hotohori exit gracefully leaving Doukun/Chiriko, Genrou/Tasuki and myself.
"How'd ya get here?" Genrou asks fighting a yawn.
"Teleported," I answer.
"Would ya teleport us back to campus, just this once?" he asks. "I'm just too worn out to walk."
"There is a thing called a cab," Doukun points out.
We call a cab.
The cab ride to campus is quiet. Doukun watches the passing buildings with a thoughtful look while Genrou slumps against me. I slip an arm around his waist. Genrou briefly opens his eyes and looks up at me smiling before closing them once more.
Soon we pull up before Doukun's dormitory.
"Goodnight," he says as he exits the cab.
Genrou sits up.
"Night, Chiriko. See ya tomorrow," he says.
Doukun shuts his door and waves before walking up the walk to the glass doors.
I instruct the driver to take us to Genrou's dorm. We are there in a matter of minutes. The cab comes to a stop, and the driver waits for us to get out.
"If ya come up, I'll give ya my story to read. It will help fill in the details," Genrou says.
I agree and ask the driver to wait. He grunts his acknowledgment to my request before we get out. We make our way through the series of locked doors till we get to his room. Instead of opening it like I thought Genrou groans.
"Shit, I'm not sleepen there tonight," he says indicating the item hanging from the doorknob. "That's our signal to stay out. Kouji is fucking making out," he explains.
"I see," I slowly say.
Genrou chuckles at my response.
"Can I crash at your place?" he asks brightening. "But, fuck, I really wanted to get the story for ya."
"Where is it exactly in your room?" I ask.
"It's on the bookcase by my desk, bottom shelf. It is in a red binder about yah big." He indicates the size with his hands. "By my math book."
I close my eyes picturing his room from my brief visit. I locate the item in question. I reach into my kasa and pull it out with a flourish. He grins proudly at me.
"You were always handy to have around," he winks. "Let's go. I'm beat."
As we walk out, I realize I never actually agreed to let him stay with me but decide to let it slide.
It's ten thirty when we enter my apartment. The night's activities have taken their toll on my young friend and he trudges through my door.
Genrou pokes around examining this and that.
"Just what I would expect out of ya – neat and orderly," he says.
"Would you like tea or something?" I ask.
"Sake?" he asks, and I am not surprised.
"Don't have any," I say.
"Tea is fine then," he says.
The tiredness drags in his voice.
I hear the TV come on while I set the water to heat. The cannels change fairly often till I enter with the tea. Genrou haphazardly sets on the couch with one foot on the coffee table. His arm resting on the couch arm holds the remote punching the cannel button. He sees me and turns the set off. I hand him a cup and sit on the other end of the couch with my legs neatly crossed.
"You don't strike me as the kind that would be so tired at this time on a Friday night," I say and take a sip of my tea.
"Normally I'd be out till one or two," he says running fingers through his vibrant locks. "But, I was up all night working on a fucking project and studying for a damn test. Then there was Miaka and the baby." He shakes his head and leans it against the back of the couch. "Pushing forty hours without sleep tends to do me in," he adds. "Hell, Chiri, I haven't been this fucking tired in a while."
His head snaps up and confused eyes lock on me.
"K'so, ya don't fucking remember yet. This is so damn complicated," he says dropping his head into his hand.
I set my cup of tea on the table and scoot over to him. I liberate him of his untouched tea before placing my arms loosely around his forward hunching form.
"It's all right," I softly say. "I understand. Call me by whichever name you want."
He turns in my hold and secures his arms around my waist. I lean against the back of the couch as he nestles his forehead into the crook of my neck.
"Thanks," he murmurs.
"I'm sure my memories will return sometime," I say while lightly rubbing his back in comforting circles. "I have remembered a few things," I point out encouragingly.
"Hai," he says cuddling up to me, "but Nuriko has been trying to get Hotohori to remember for years," a yawn interrupts his words and he nuzzles his head into my shirt after crawling into my lap, "an' 'e hasn't 'membered."
His voice is sounding distant, and I can see his eyes drifting closed.
"Although…, I think he doesn't wan'a 'member. Not … sure … why …," he trails off and his breathing evens out in sleep.
A soft smile appears as I watch him sleep snuggled against me. All pretenses are absent. He is relaxed and looks content. I take the opportunity to study him, to memorize the pattern of faint freckles across his cheeks, to admire the fiery being who completes me. I feel I have watched him sleep thousands of times before, but I never tire of it. I never tire of having him near despite the havoc he causes in my life.
Memory? No specific memory, just a remembered overview of how things were – or are.
I caress the reddish-orange strands around his face.
I love him. He is the one I have waited for.
I yawn. The clock tells me it is after eleven. Not wanting to wake him, I snag the blanket from the back of the couch. I manage to drape it over him. I slowly stretch out on the couch pulling Genrou down with me and succeed in not disturbing his sleep. A small exertion of power and the lights turn off. I drift off with his comforting weight pressed against my side.
~=88=~ ~=88=~ ~=88=~ ~=88=~ ~=88=~
I wake not long before the sun rises. Sometime in the night we shifted positions. I was now the one sprawled halfway across him. My head rests on his chest just under his chin. I can hear the movement of air through his lungs with each rise and fall of his chest. One arm curves over his torso, and I can feel his arm loosely encircling me with his hand resting on my hip. The blanket is entwined around both of us, but most of it spills to the floor.
Regretfully I separate myself from the pleasant tangle. With acrobatic skill, I make it to my feet and watch him continue to sleep stretched out on the sofa. I tug at the blanket to cover him before I stretch and go watch the sunrise.
I settle into me customary spot for morning meditations. Only the smallest hint of colour can be seen in the horizon with the day's cloud cover. Even after the sun rises, the day will be dull and lackluster. Rain is coming. I complete my morning ritual and shower. After dressing I return to check on my guest.
He sleeps still and probably will for a while yet. His limbs are strewn haphazardly about. The blanket was once more half on the floor.
The red report folder catches my eye from its post on the coffee table. Now is as good a time as any to learn of my past. I pick it up and settle in the recliner with the binder on my lap. It is thick and must be close to seventy pages long. I open it to the cover page.
"Tasuki, Legendary Warrior by Kou Genrou"
Hesitantly my fingers turn the page. The neatly typed document is exposed.
"Chapter 1 – Becoming a Bandit
Huan-Langi walked up the mountain path in hopes of starting a new life away from his family. You see, he was running away from home for reasons of sanity. He had the misfortune of being born to a family with five older sisters, an overbearing mother, and a simple unassertive father. His sisters were always picking on him and making his life hell. His mother was constantly smashing him to her large breast in what she called 'loving hugs.' The six females felt they knew what was best for him and what he should do, and his henpecked father never came to his aid. Put this all together resulted in Huan-Langi wanting out and hating women. He did not want to be a milksop like his father. He wanted to be a MAN. He wanted to meet life head on and give it a few injuring kicks and punches for it to remember him by.
He had thought long and hard for a solution – well, for an hour last night – and decided becoming a bandit was the answer. As luck would have it, there was a group of bandits occupying one of the local mountains…"
I glance up and watch Genrou shift in his sleep. Not the most pleasant sight with mouth hanging open and drool clinging to the corner of his mouth, but it still warms my heart.
After meeting his sister, I do not believe much has changed in his home, but obviously there must be some differences since he waited till he got to of college to escape. And, I wonder what similarities and differences there are between my lives.
I wonder if my friends now were my friends in my past life. Did Hikou and Kouran grow up with me then too? "Don't let it happen again, no da," the remembered warning echoes in my head. A cold heavy weight solidified inside me. With a certainty I know they were there and something bad happened between us. I just do not know what. I look to Genrou's manuscript. Maybe my answers lie within. If not I can ask him. I continue to read
I am almost finished with chapter 2, "The Miko's Search," when Genrou stirs. He sits up and leisurely extends arms above his head while his spine expands and curves with his shifting shoulders. My eyes trace the lines of his elongated form. His arms drop to his side, and I realize I have been caught staring. One fang pokes out from under his upper lip with his smirk and his eyes show amusement as I blush and look away.
"Morning," I manage to get out through my suddenly tightening passageway.
"Morning," he slowly drawls out. Laughter is evident in his greeting. He saunters over to my chair. "Where ya at?" he asks pointing to the book.
"Nearing the end of chapter 2," I answer meeting his eyes once more.
"Hmm…," he hums. "Had breakfast yet?"
"I was waiting for you," I answer.
He leans down hovering before me at eye level.
"I'll make breakfast, and ya' keep reading," he says.
Before I can respond he swoops down and catches my lips in a tempered kiss. It is a mixture of innocence and passion that leaves me reeling and missing his touch when he pulls away.
"I want ya to remember," he says walking away.
I blink after him still flabbergasted by the feelings we share and how easily he shows me affection. I have never experienced anything like him in this life. Slowly I emerge from my awestruck state and look at the page before me. Only with great effort do I manage to read to the end of the chapter. My mind wants to focus more on the redhead in the kitchen than the print. I close the book and set it down just as Genrou says breakfast is ready.
I move into the kitchen and sit at the table where a bowl of food awaits me. We do not say much as we eat our simple breakfast. The ringing phone jostles me from my pondering. I pick up the cordless handset and speak.
"Hey, Chichiri! Good morning," greets Nuriko.
His high spirited voice produces a mental image of the purple haired man with a broad cheerful grin.
"Good morning, Nuriko. You sound chipper," I say.
He giggles.
"I just called Tasuki's and got grumped at by a sleepy Kouji. He seemed to wake up a bit when he realized his roommate did not come home last night." There was suggestive sensual tone to the boy's voice. "So do you happen to know where he is?"
"I happen to be looking at him as he eats breakfast across the table from me," I answer.
"Great! Can I talk to him?" Nuriko asks.
I hand the phone to Genrou. He takes it and mumbles his greeting. I watch and listen as he talks.
"Nuriko, whatch'a want?"
I can only guess what Nuriko says to tease him, but Genrou's face flushes deep red before he loudly protests.
"Hell no, it was nothing like that," he sputters. "Ya' have a sick mind."
Nuriko's laughter spills from the receiver.
"Tell me what ya want or I'm hanging up," Genrou threatens.
"Yeah, that will give us time to finish eating and for me to clean up. … O.K. See ya in two hours at the hospital."
Genrou pushes the off button with irritation.
"We're gona'a go see Miaka and the baby," he tells me while knocking part of his breakfast on him. "Got a shirt I can borrow?" he asks noting the rumpled and dirty state of the one he currently has on.
"I think I can find something," I say and show him to the bathroom on my way to ravage my closet for clothes for him.
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We step from the elevator into the maternity ward when I am suddenly crushed against Nuriko. Genrou is squirming on the other side. After reading chapter 2, I know why he has such a "firm" hold.
"We're all here and can see Miaka!" he says.
"Put us … the hell down…, baka … before ya fuck…ing kill us," Genrou squeaks out.
Nuriko good naturally laughs. He lets me go but holds Genrou and ruffles his hair. He thrashes about throwing out choice words questioning Nuriko's sanity. Genrou is still sputtering when he is released.
"Let's go see Miaka," Nuriko bubbles dragging us to her room.
Hotohori and Donkun emerge from the lounge as we near. I am sure Genrou's outbursts of displeasure alerted them to our coming. The five of us enter Miaka's room. She smiles at us warmly even though she looks fatigued.
"Did you see Kazuna?" she asks.
"We looked in on her last night," Doukun answers. "She is lovely."
Miaka radiated pride and happiness.
"So, where's the proud father?" Nuriko asks.
"Keisuke drug him out to get some rest," Miaka answers.
The room is soon a flutter with chatter about Kazuna and when they would come home and other stuff. Nuriko was ready to move in and help Miaka. Hotohori convinced him it was not a good idea. I can already see that young Kazuna will be spoiled by her "uncles," as Miaka keeps referring to us as.
Taka enters the crowded room followed by more people. I do not recognize them, but most of the others seem to. Nuriko whispers something to Hotohori.
"Tasuki," Doukun hisses cautioning the softly growling red-head.
I look at Genrou then to the blond girl he is intently looking at. She blanches and her eyes widen in shock as she takes in our group. The two other males look at us with surprised recognition. The lighter haired man questioningly glances between Taka and Miaka but seems hesitant to voice his queries. The older woman looks at us like we are intruding and should not be here before she moved to Miaka's side.
I give Genrou a light kick to draw his uncomfortable attention from the girl.
"What was that for," he fiercely demands of me.
I recoil at his temper but do not back down. All eyes are now on us till Hotohori comes to the rescue.
"Miaka-san," Hotohori says, "we should be going and let you spend time with your family. We are glad you are safe and offer our congratulations to both you and Taka. Till we meet again," he bows before ushering Nuriko out.
"I'll call you, Miaka," Nuriko calls over his shoulder before leaving.
"You better," Miaka calls back.
"Bye guys," she says to the rest of us.
Genrou's sudden aggression has subsided after Hotohori's farewell. We bid Miaka and Taka farewell and exit the room.
"Who were those other people?" I ask once we are away from the room.
"Shit, Chiri, I forgot ya wouldn't recognize them. I'm sorry," he says looking pitifully repentant.
"The girl was Yui," Doukun informs me.
"Yui? Oh, as in Miaka's friend who was pulled into the book too," I say.
They both nod.
"Genrou, why are you so hostile towards her?" I ask.
"Read the next chapter," he bitterly answers.
"Tasuki, you should not hold a grudge," Doukun says. "Miaka has made peace with her."
"Plus in the end it was her wish that saved Miaka," Nuriko points out.
Genrou crosses his arms like a defiant child.
"So? She put us through hell!" he demands before Nuriko knocks him into the hallway wall.
"It was in another life. Get over it." Nuriko says walking toward the front door in a huff.
Genrou recovers from his impact with the wall and chases Nuriko out the front door. Their disagreement falls to the level of name calling.
"Genrou," I gasp and wince as he flies into a brick wall.
I hurry out the door to check on Genrou.
"He will never learn to not antagonize Nuriko will he," Doukun says to Hotohori as the doors close behind me.
~=88=~ ~=88=~ ~=88=~ ~=88=~ ~=88=~
I return to my apartment after we have lunch. It seems empty now without them around. Genrou would have returned with me, but he had homework that I insisted he finish. I would not be the reason for him failing any classes. I also promised him dinner when he got it done. Hopefully it is motivation enough for him to do it.
In the mean time, I want to finish reading about Tasuki's life and what Yui did to upset him so. I pick the binder up and settle into the couch. I open to "Chapter 3 – Loosing Friends." My insides tighten and churn at the title. It's bad. I can already feel the pain this chapter will inflict. I am tempted not to read it, but if I want to know about my life then, I must take the good with the bad.
Tears slip down my eyes as Nuriko dies. I only meet the outgoing man yesterday, yet I feel great loss at the retelling of his death. I can almost see him giving his all to help his friends. I share the pain the others felt with his passing. I mourn our loss.
The others' deaths deal me similar blows. The thought that all was lost for Nakago to take revenge on his own emperor tares at my heart leaving long jagged wounds. It is all so cruel. I wish there was something I could do to change our tragic tale. There is not. It is in the past, and we are all re-born in this world at this time with a future that looks less troubled.
Coming to the end of chapter three, the title of chapter four gives me hope.
Chapter 4 – Healing and Moving On
The battle that spanned two worlds was over. Everyone returned to their location of origin. The last two Suzaku Seishi were once more in their war torn land of Konan. They helped where they could to put their home back together and honor the sacrifices of their fallen comrades.
With his kasa shadowing his face, Chichiri walked away from the palace.
Tasuki caught sight of his masked friend and trotted over.
"Gong someplace, Chichiri?" Tasuki asked.
"Yes, I am leaving to wander once more."
Tasuki's eyes narrowed.
"Ya leaving without saying so-long?" he said looking exaggeratingly hurt.
Chichiri's mask grinned.
"No, I just told the empress of my plans and was going to find you," Chichiri said. "When will you be returning to Mt. Reikaku? The monk asked stepping forward along the path.
Tasuki walked beside him.
"Don't know. Hadn't given it much thought," Tasuki said watching the monk.
Honestly he had thought about it. He was not sure if he wanted to return to that life, at least not yet. His priorities and goals had changed after what he had been through. Since leaving the mountain, he had gained and lost a family he loved deeply, and the thought of Chichiri, his last star brother, leaving felt like his last support collapsed under him.
"Ya want company on y'r journey?" Tasuki asked clinging to his lifeline.
"If you truly want to come, I would like it," Chichiri said with an eye on the path before them.
Tasuki knew Chichiri realized they needed each other while they healed. Even though their personalities were vastly different, they had tasted the same grief and through it understood the other better than anyone else alive.
.
.
.
After Miaka and Taka returned home, the two seishi retuned to their wandering life style. Tasuki followed the monk without questioning their direction except to ask when they would stop as he always did. He did that more to get a reaction from his friend than wanting to stop.
Their recent adventure made him appreciate and cherish their relationship. Almost loosing Chichiri still stung, and he prayed to Suzaku that they would be together for a long time. Tasuki did not have the strength of heart to be the last. Yet, he did not wish that fate on his friend either.
It was funny… Tasuki could not imagine not having Chichiri near by. The thought of not being woke up by the irritatingly chipper monk in the morning or his own attempts to get under the monk's skin left an aching emptiness in his chest. He wanted to be by Chichiri's side till they died.
Tasuki woke from his thoughts and examined the town they entered several minutes ago. He looked around.
"Retuned from you dream world no da?" Chichiri teased.
"Hmm," Tasuki grunted while thinking this place looked awfully familiar. He suddenly knew why and the cold lighting of dread shot down his spine. "We are not stopping here, are we, Chichiri?" Tasuki asked nervously scourering the area for threats.
"Daa?" said the confused monk.
Tasuki was always happy to get into town.
The ex-bandit tugged at Chichiri's arm.
"Let's go back to the forest and sleep outside tonight."
Tasuki tried to drag Chichiri back the way they came. Chichiri halted their movement and thumped Tasuki on the head with his shajukou
"Itai," hissed Tasuki rubbing his head.
"Tasuki, what is wrong, no da? You always want to stop at a town," said Chichiri.
"Not this one," he said emphatically..
"We have never been to this town before no da," Chichiri pointed out.
Tasuki noticed the people observing them standing in the middle of the street arguing. He tried to hide from their eyes by flipping his collar up and hunching his shoulders. He tugged once more at his friend's sleeve.
"Move, we're maken a scene," he hissed.
The monk was curious about his companion's odd behaviour.
"There's an inn. Let's get a room, no da," Chichiri said.
"Fine," Tasuki grumped. "You get the damn room, and I'll wait upstairs for ya."
Chichiri accepted his friend's odd behaviour and arraigned for a room with the proprietor of the establishment. As promised, Tasuki, after blurring from the door up the stairs, was waiting for him when he got there.
Tasuki entered the room immediately and lay down on the futon.
"Not going to the bar?" Chichiri asked.
"No," Tasuki says crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm gona sleep so we can leave early in the mornin'."
"Are you feeling all right no da?" Chichiri asked moving forward to place a hand on Tasuki's forehead.
"Fucking fine," he roughly said batting the hand away and rolling over so his back was to his friend.
Chichiri gave up and went to get them dinner.
The next morning, Tasuki was up and ready to go early. He hurried Chichiri out of the inn where he froze.
"Huan-Langi!" cried a large woman heading their way with arms wide. "You are back!"
"Iiiieeee!" Tasuki screamed and jumped in the air. He dashed behind Chichiri and cowered. "Chichiri, save me," he begged.
Chichiri, faced with the charging woman, thrust his shakujou before him and called, "Halt!"
She came up short surprised at the monk standing between her and her goal.
"May we help you in some way, madam? No da," Chichiri asked with his mask smiling.
Tasuki whimpered into his back.
"Let me welcome my son home," she said putout.
"Son?" Chichiri questioned trying to glance back at his friend.
"Look at Huan-Langi hiding behind the monk," jeered a woman taking a stand by the first.
Tasuki stiffened.
"I hate you Kia," he hissed.
She laughed at him.
"Still acting like a good-for-nothing spoiled child," Kia tossed back.
Tasuki was immediately in her face listing her "wonderful" attributes. His ranting was muffled by his mother's embrace.
"I knew you would eventually come home," she declared while Tasuki flailed about. "Now that you're back, I'll find you a wife and you can settle down and help your dad."
Tasuki choked at the announcement and broke away.
"Iie!" he said. "I don't need a wife."
"Already married!" his mother exclaimed. "Where is she?"
"I'm not married," Tasuki corrected and wondered why he just dispelled a wonderful life saving lie. "I don't even like women! Growing up with the fucking lot of you, it's not surprising." - He just did not know when to keep his mouth shut.
"Still clinging to that story," Kia mocked. "Ya'll use any excuse to avoid responsibility."
Tasuki pulled out the tessen and was ready to flame his sister when he acquired another lump from Chichiri's shakujou.
"Tasuki, na da," Chichiri softly warned.
Tasuki rubbed his head and glared at his friend letting him know how betrayer he felt.
"Come on home, everyone will want to see you," his mother said grabbing his arm and dragging him down the street. "We need to get some meat on your bones."
&&&&&&&
Tasuki and Chichiri set at the back yard table while Tasuki's mother put bowls full of food before them. They ate at her insistence.
One by one, Tasuki's sisters arrive with their children. They all cluck over Tasuki's return while he tried to hide under the table.
"Why did we come to his hell town?" Tasuki asked Chichiri through gritted teeth.
"It is on the way to Mt. Reikaku no da," Chichiri supplied. "I thought you might want to visit Kouji and the others. No da."
"Nice thought," Tasuki admitted. "We're not getting there now anytime soon."
"How about Chu-li?" one sister suggested. "She is from a good family."
"Or Sorou," another said.
Tasuki stood up and slammed his fist on the table.
"I am NOT marring a damn woman. Especially one of your choosing," he forcefully announced.
All the women looked at him shocked.
"Dear, you are just overreacting," his mother cooed.
"No, Mother, I am fucking not!" Tasuki insisted. "You harpies will not listen to me when I say I do not need a wife."
"He has a lover!" announced another of his sisters clapping happily. "A forbidden lover that he can't tell us about."
All his sisters offered their own twist to the tale of Tasuki's mysterious high-ranking lover. Tasuki searched for a way out of this. He looked over at Chichiri for help when a plan formed.
"It might work, if he doesn't fucking kill me," Tasuki thought.
While everyone was arguing about his life, Tasuki leaned over to Chichiri giving him a pleading look and whispered, "Forgive me," before slipping into Chichiri's lap. He removed Chichiri's mask and kissed him. Tasuki kissed Chichiri languidly finding his senses quickly enraptured by the activity. Thankfully, Chichiri kissed back.
The yard around them quieted as the others noted Tasuki's activities.
Tasuki slowly became aware of the silence around him. He nibbled once more at Chichiri's lips before leaning back to gaze into his mahogany eye.
"Daaa," Chichiri softly breathed.
"Thanks," Tasuki mouthed.
He set the mask back in place before tuning to look at his stunned family.
"He really doesn't like women," Kia said.
&&&&&&
That night Tasuki entered the small room that once was his. Chichiri looked like he was meditating.
"I don't mind helping you out, but I don't appreciate being used to lie to your family, na no da," Chichiri said after Tasuki entered.
"I know," Tasuki softly said looking down. He trotted across the room and sat on the floor before the monk. "I've been thinking about it all day."
Chichiri opened his eye to look at Tasuki.
"I don't think it is necessarily a lie," Tasuki slowly said watching Chichiri's face as he plowed on with his day's thoughts. "Y're my friend, hell, my best friend. Since I nearly fucking lost ya to Hikou, I've been thinking how much I want and need ya in my life. I can't imagine spending a damn day without talking to ya or annoying ya or just sitten quietly with ya. Ya are my steadying influence. My life would loose purpose if ya weren't in it. There is no other person out there that I want to spend the rest of my life with. If that's not love, I don't know what the hell is."
Chichiri sat quiet and impassive through Tasuki's confession. Tasuki waited for his friend's response.
"I love you, too, no da," Chichiri smiled.
He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on Tasuki's lips. Chichiri stood and offered a hand to Tasuki.
"Time for bed, no da," Chichiri said invitingly.
Tasuki smiled and took the hand. Chichiri pulled him to his feet. He followed the monk to bed where they tenderly broadened the boundaries of their relationship.
I wonder how far we "broadened the boundaries" that night. It is another thing to add to the list of questions to ask Genrou.
I continue to read the brief overview of our life together till the end. I can taste the grief as he describes my death. I cry out with him in his pain.
"I did not want to leave you," I insist. "I did not want you in such pain."
I wipe at the tears streaming from my eyes.
"I love you," I whisper. "I love you."
I want to rush to him and enfold him in my arms to ease his pain. That would be foolish. He is not in pain now. He is diligently working on schoolwork, and my actions would seem so random.
I lean my head back over the couch arm and close my eyes. I can almost remember that day. It is distant and unfocused. I reach for it and it slithers away. I have the emotions from the events of the past but not an actual account of the events.
"Why can't I remember," I cry out. "I want to remember, too!"
I want to see my life through my own eyes.
"You will, no da," my chibi says.
When? I demand.
"Soon, no da."
Why not now? What do you know? Have you known all along?
I suddenly realize while arguing with my subconscious that it has always talked like Chichiri. I have only used it on rare occasions – usually in moments of surprise or shock.
"Hai, no da."
You know what happened in my past life?
"Hai, no da."
Why can't I know?
"Not the right time, no da."
Who are you?
"That which is hidden, no da."
One… Two… Three… Four…
I count my slowly taken breaths to re-gather my thoughts and attack the problem my ambiguous subconscious poses.
When will be the right time?
"When brother sleeper is ready to wake, no da."
It's a clue. I just have to figure out what it is referring to.
A knock at my door pulls me back to the reality of my apartment. I can feel Genrou's ki before I get to the door. I smile at the warm core radiating inside me with his nearness.
"You are early," I say opening the door.
He flashes his fangs in a roguish grin as he stands in my doorway with a thumb hooked under the strap of his book bag hanging from his shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's notes and review responses:
I racked my brain to come up with a unique way for Tasuki and Chichiri to discover their feelings for each other the first time around. I think I came up with at least a slightly different twist to it. ^_^ I tried to make it comical. I at least find it amusing. Hope you did too.
As always, thanks for the reviews.
Babbling Brook
Chibichiri: Thanks for your enthusiasm.
Arsronus Liadon: laughs Good thing I made that note so you did not go into a full panic attack or something. ^_~
DreamFeathers: cackles maniacally It was a rather nasty point to end the last chapter. Hee, hee, hee… But, I hope you now see why I did it. I just had to change POV at that point.
I know Tasuki does not need his tessen, but I just could not leave him without it. : ( It just did not seem right.
I am trying really hard to balance Nuriko's character between his early lighthearted days at the beginning and the more serious confident side before he died. I feel his character took a major developmental step and hate to loose it in this life. I am not sure of Hotohori yet either. :-P
Yes, Mit has his memory back. I thought it would be great too to have all the seishi present for the birth.
big grin Ahh… blushes thanks for the show of affection. blush more
Alatril Carnesr: I am glad the story caught you attention. It tells me I am doing something right if I am attracting readers outside of the devoted Tas/Chiri fans. ^_^ The prologue is a bit of a tear jerker. Sorry, I had to leave Chichiri out of much of the last chapter, but I hope this one made up for it. Thanks.
Unofficial Schwarz: I know the feeling. ^_^ Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And this story will probably be there in about a month.
Rath: Her name is Kazuna. I found this great site that has baby names organized by country and picked it from the list of Japanese girl's names because it looked nice.
Hotohori or Chichiri… that's a hard one to answer since technically they get their memories back at the same time. You will have to be the judge when you read it. ^_^
Jessalynn: Thank you for your wonderful comments. I try to write the characters true to their personalities or give a good reason for the deviation.
Bonnie Lass: How Ri-sensei will remember will unfold in the next two chapters. ^_^
Yaoi-Rules: Thanks.
Minerva Teller of tales: blush Thank you. What you and everyone else have said affirms that I am achieving my goal of producing a good quality story that is true to the characters and captivates the reader.
Kouryou Sanomi: ^_________^ Yeah, I ended it there. I had to switch POV. I hope you forgive me now that you have read the next chapter.
