Where do I belong?

Disclaimer:

Me: Merry advanced Christmas! I don't own those superb FY characters but I will soon! * hint hint *

FY Charac: * scared and cautious * * all backing away slowly * What do you mean Fiery-chan?

Me: Ehehehehe! One of the wonderful readers is gonna buy you all for me and give you guys to me as a Christmas present! * big wide smile *

FY Charac: YAAAAAAAAAAADAAAAAAAAA!!! Dame da yoooo!! Don't give us to her we beg you!! * begging *

Readers: We won't!

FY Charac: Arigatou * bowing looking grateful *

Readers: We'll keep you for ourselves!  * evil hentai grins *

FY Charac: IIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE * run screaming *

Me: Anyway basically I don't own anyone except Hirashi Kimiko! No steal pleazzie! * zooms away *

WARNINGS: OOC characters cos I want it that way. NO FLAMES are welcomed. Don't like my fic DON'T REVIEW!! I am only doing this for my fun and the readers who actually want to read it. One more thing MAJOR SPOILERS!

Notes: Oh geez!!!! GOMEN NASAAAAIIII Minna-saaaan! Long delay! And Merry merry Christmas!! My Christmas Present to ya'all is this chapter thought its short but here's is the *  beep * aww you're gonna have to read and find out!

Its short I know but I promise try to make it up to you all in future! You all know I Love ya all! Back to the subject the reasons why I cannot update till probably next year!

Reason 1: A whole troupe of relatives from Malaysia whom I haven't seen in a loooooooong time came to Brunei the country I am living in now to visit us for a week! And there is soooooooo many of them! Plus my maid is not around!

Reason 2: Coincides with reason 1  My maid isn't around and I have to do a lot of housework as my elder sister who is useless anyways is not here!

Reason 3: I am going off on holiday FINALLY! After my cousins leave! You good people would take away a girl's holiday will ya? I know you won't!!! ^_^

Reason 4: Its Christmas! I gotta prepare for the big family gathering we always have every year! Sowee I am a busy person heheh!

Now see I have many reasons! So I do hope you all will understand! Also if you guys are lucky I'll have enough time to write up the second part of chapter 10!! I am kinda erm started a quarter way through already! So ARIGATOU again to all my lovely readers! I am always grateful! So ON with the fic!

~ Fiery-Ice ~

Readers delight:

KittyLynne: Welcome to WDIB!! Thanks for understanding! And yes the main reason I started this fic was first the idea and I am having fun as I dun really have a clue to what the end is! I am sorta seeing it as it goes along!

Also thanks for the lovely review as it raises a lot of questions that I hope to answer in future chapters! Don't worry keep asking questions and you will be answered… ermn hehehe in due time! ^_^ yea you gotta wait!

Arigatou for the tips also! They sound as they might work for me!  * big smile * I love rambling reviews and I really hope to see you here again with more hehehe! Ja and I hope you like this chapter!

Kiriko-seikun: Wow! About 3 times I think you are one of the first reviewers! I am happy that you are actually still reading this!! Write what people don't want to read? Explain I am still confused by that remark! I'll try though but clarify pweaaaaase * puppy dog eyes * Also ARIGATOU! Hee hee! I don't like flamers anyways and this one sucked! At least the one before helped me out a bit!

Shadow Hawk:  Rosieeeeeee-chaaaaaan! Oh My goooood its beeen soooo looooong! How's your fic and paper going? I hope its going well! I am ecstatic that you took the time to drop by! Your questions will be answered sooon!  I agree flamers suck! Also I hope to see ya soon!  * hugs *

Snow Wolf: Lol I am glad I amused you! Its what I set out to do!  Glad my goal is achieved! Kimiko is not reborn in our world. Since I have given you this answer you gotta keep reading to find out the rest!! ^_^

uots: I am most amused by your review + dialogue with nakago in the review ya know? I have tried reading them but I am most sorry that its clumped together and my poor eyes is having a hard time! I read them but it wasn't clear to me because I kept mixing up the lines! I do hope you will repost them spaced out! ^_^ for now enjoy!

Shadow-clow: Anna-chaaan! Oi where is your fic! I demand I see it! You love it? Awwww!! * blushes * thankies! Oh yeaa! This chapter should be your liking! You asked for romance didn't ya muahahahah! Hope its hot enough!

Cortney: Original and unique? Why thank you very much! I look forward to seeing you here again and also there definitely will be more! Don't fret! ^_^

MoO KaWaIi MoO: Yay I saved poor Amiboshi! I know that is to your liking! ^_^ Yea she is meaaaaaaaaan that is why I had to put up that note I mean that was soo petty of her! LoL

faeriesinger: Aww I do sympathise I know how that feels! It's the same here but I managed to get the pc recently when my parents aren't home and now even better both my siblings aren't gonna be at home for a while! ^_^ hehe yea there are twists in this story and I hope I am doing it well enough! Aww you love meeeee!!! That is soooo sweet * teary eyes * * hugs faeriesinger very tightly *

Zerianyu:  Here's the chapter you wanted coooooooming up! Stop apologising for that its alright! I really don't mind! Plus I am glad that you are still reading this! ^_^ see ya in the next chappie when it comes out!

__________: Hello!!! You didn't leave a name but I loved your review! Demanding aren't you! Hehe Oh well great minds think alike! Gosh I sound conceited! I like Nuriko too! He isn't my favourite but he is in my top 3! I'll see what I can do but I am not sure dear! There are no guarantees but I do hope that you'll stay even if I don't do that! I hope that my fic is well good enough!  ^_^ I will definitely consider all options and suggestions! Cos that is where quite a few times I get my ideas! BUT I will not make this yaoi! No I am not yaoi phobic or anything.

I like reading yaoi and Nuriko/Hotohori is one of my favourite pairings especially when done by Purple Mouse-san or Ryuen-san they are very good! I recommend them! If you don't mind yaoi and like that pairing. Besides I promised my friend that this wouldn't be a yaoi fic! Lol and I gotta stick to that! Also I don't think I can write yaoi yet! ^_^ anyways enjoy the fic and I promise I will consider your suggestion!

Chapter 10

Part 1:

Is it love?

Tasuki and Kimiko were walking along to the rooms silently and content to be in each other's company.

~Kimiko~

I smiled amusedly at our antics just now at the lake.

Sighing happily which was not a rare moment since I got here I thought out aloud to myself, " It's nice to act like a kid again just carefree."

"Why is that?" Tasuki asked puzzledly.

Not wanting to spoil the mood, I brushed it off saying, "Nan de mo nai!"

We lapsed into companionable silence again.

~Tasuki~

I can't believe I am falling in love with a woman. Too late I have fallen.

Walking next to her I can see her face clearly glowing. She has an inner fire to her. Her green eyes twinkling with delight looked like sparkling emeralds. Her hair wasn't tied up and her reddish brown hair looked golden brown in the light.

As if just waking out of a dream she asked me, "Hey gen-chan do you know where is my room? This palace is too big I can't remember where it is."

"It's near all the seishis' rooms. I'll take ya there later if ya want."

"Arigatou gen-chan! I think I wanna take a bath now. Where are they?"

I was about to answer when a purple haired evil smile looking face popped up in front of us.

"AAAAHHH!" we screamed in shock.

"AHO! Don't do that!"

Nuriko smiled a mischievous smirk then snickered, "Sooo. Where are you two going hmn? Walking so closely too?"

Blushing Kimiko and I jumped away from each other. Shimatta! Nuriko knows I like Kimiko?

Kimiko spoke up changing the subject, "I just want to take a bath Nuri-chan! Do you know where they are? Can you take me there?"

Nuriko looked so funny crestfallen that he couldn't get any information that I laughed. Kimiko chuckled then said again, " Onegai Nuri-chan? But I need to go to my room first ne?

Nuriko replied sulkily, "Hai…"

We headed to Kimiko's room. Nuriko teasing Kimiko about things.

~Kimiko~

Geez Nuriko gave me a heart attack.

We stopped at my room and I went inside then I popped my head out.

"Hey don't you two want to take baths too? We can go together! Oi no hentai thoughts Nuri-chan! You know what I mean! You guys go to the otoko's side and I go to the onna's side!"

Nuri-chan goes from normal to hentai in like 0.01 seconds flat. Both of them blushed then Nuriko muttered a small, "Hai!"

I grabbed my now clean red tank top and grey sweatpants that I wore when I first came and some pins to keep my hair up. I popped out of my room and saw that Nuriko and Tasuki were waiting outside with their stuff. 

We walked in a group then along the way Amiboshi was sitting on one of the corridor's banisters deep in thought.

I could feel Tasuki glaring at him when I walked up to Amiboshi. Nuriko just stood by.

I tapped him greeting him, "O genki desu ka, Ami-chan?"

I guess he was surprised because he jolted and fell of the banister. Grinning, I helped him up.

"Gomen Ami-chan…"

"Daijoubu Kimiko."

I felt hot laser eyes boring into my back so I turned and saw Tasuki glaring at Amiboshi with Nuriko holding him back in case. I raised an eyebrow and turned my attention back to Amiboshi.

"Say….Ami-chan do you want to bathe too? C'mon join us we're heading there now."

I tugged him along as he protested, "Eto… There is no need Kimiko." I ignored his protests until he came along willingly.

~Tasuki~

Kimiko stopped when we saw Amiboshi the traitor. My blood started to boil when I recalled how he betrayed us and also since Kimiko was standing so close to him. (A/N: my my getting possessive aren't you gen-chan? ^_^ and she isn't even yours yet!")

I glared at the two. If I could kill Amiboshi by glaring he would be dead already. I felt like lunging at the aho. Kimiko turned around then ignored me turning her attention back to Amiboshi. I was seething by now. Then she invited him along with us.

********************

They walked in a group towards the baths. Amiboshi was feeling uncomfortable because of obvious reasons, Nuriko feasting his eyes on the spectacle going on in front of him, Tasuki seething and Kimiko ignoring his idiocy. At the baths they went heir separate ways giving the individuals time to themselves to think in the relaxing atmosphere.

The baths were made in a way of a huge hot springs area with a barrier of bamboo stalks closely constructed to divide the women's side and the men's side. Surrounding the baths were greenery and rocks.

Tasuki and Amiboshi sat in the two opposite ends of the baths. Amiboshi out of fear Tasuki would kill him and Tasuki well….  You know him. Nuriko looked back and forth at the two.

Kimiko sank into the hot water gratefully. The hot water relaxing the tension in her muscles that had built up in the past few days she had been in the Shi Jin Ten Shi Sho.

~Kimiko~

How many days has it been since I was dropped here anyway? Nearly a week I guess.

I am doing things I never thought I would have the courage to do. I nearly got killed a few times but I never did die definitely. My wounds healed quickly but too quickly. Why?

Nakago…What is his objective now? Why did he say I was Seiryuu's? Who am I to both sides, am I just an oracle?  Where are the other Seiryuu seishi? I need to know…who am I and why am I here.

Too many questions, I just don't feel I want to face reality and if this is a dream I don't want to wake up. Tasuki…his name comes up often in my mind. Do I really like him, in what way? Romantically or deep friendship? He is supposedly a woman hater but is that true or is that just his macho pride?

I looked at the starry sky filled with myriads of stars. I can see constellations, which were hard to see in Japan. Twinkling stars of hope sprinkled in a blanket of dark inky black sky, maybe that is what everyone needs to survive just hope. 

I submerged my head under water my long hair spreading like a fan. Closing my eyes and holding my breath I felt the tranquillity of the water. I always had a fascination with water and fire. I can adapt well to both elements. The heat or the coolness they seem to go hand in hand but always contradicts the other.

I heard some shouting from the guys' side and emerged from the now warm water, grabbing a towel and a robe I clothed myself and walked into the guys' side of the bath.

What met my eyes was surely embarrassing as the guys were butt-naked and Tasuki was on top of Amiboshi with his hands around the latter's neck. Nuriko was trying to pull Tasuki off. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks and the heat making me flush.

Laughing I raised my voice, "Ano…Tasuki don't you think that is a rather compromising position?"

~Tasuki~

I can see that aho all the way from here. He betrayed us and now he is moving in with Kimiko?

"Could you not stare at me like that?" Amiboshi said sarcastically.

That did it. I lunged at him yelling traitor and trying to wrap my hands around his traitorous neck. When I finally succeeded, I heard someone laughing.

"Ano…Tasuki don't you think that is a rather compromising position?"

Looking up I saw Kimiko in her white and red robe.

"K'so!"

I jumped back into the water as the others did the same all blushing furiously.

What is she doing in the men's bath?

Nuriko called out muffled by the water. "What are you doing here Kimi-chan?"

She blushed cutely, shrugged and said, "Just trying to find out what the commotion was about." Shaking her head. "Well…Tasuki I know you sorta don't like Amiboshi right now but I swear he is a good guy okay? Don't keep trying to kill him. I am going to get dressed."

I watched her as she strolled away towards the changing rooms. (A/N: ano… *sweatdrops * I have no idea whether they have changing rooms heheh but lets just say there were okay * winks *)

********************

A bit dazed at being caught in their birthday suits, Tasuki and Amiboshi walked quickly to their rooms while Nuriko not really affected changed quickly and accompanied Kimiko to explore the palace while chattering gaily. (A/N: * ahem * excuse the bad pun)

@ Kutou   @

Nakago found something that would unquestionably be the bait for Kimiko. He felt smug because now all he had to do was wait. * insert maniacal laugh by the author *

@ Konan @

Nuriko and Kimiko now dressed in comfortable clothes walked around the palace talking. This was all after having a dinner meal.  Kimiko wanted to talk to  Miaka but Nuriko advised her not to and just let the lovebirds have their time.

Meanwhile Tasuki was drinking A LOT of sake in the gardens where he first met Kimiko.

~Tasuki~

Tomorrow is the Star Gazing Festival. Is Kimiko going? I took another gulp of the sweet sake. It burned going down my throat but it gave me the familiar comfort of me going into a drunken daze.

~Kimiko~

I love Nuriko like a sibling or a best friend but sometimes he can get annoying though it's amusing if it is not being done to me. Especially since he kept talking about Tasuki and his speech seemed like he was trying to sell Tasuki on to me. More like matchmaking, what in the world was going on in that purple haired head of his?

His chatter about Tasuki was only bringing up more thoughts on my feelings for the fiery haired seishi. I knew I sorta had an obsession for the seishi in my world. Has that changed or am I just not reacting because I think I'll get hurt? Strange…I thought I would have glomped him or something if I first saw him.

I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to stress on my feelings because first things first I have to go on this journey make sure all the seishi are safe not only because that is now my job given by Suzaku to do so but also because I want to. I want them to lead happy lives.

I have nearly failed in my purpose when Amiboshi was nearly following the same routine as the show. I managed to change fate this time but will I be so lucky with the others? I only can hope that I will live long enough to protect the fates of these seishi. Their lives are worth more than mine.

********************

By a stroke of luck Nuriko excused himself to go look for Hotohori on matters of the Hokkan trip. Kimiko brightened and told him that she would be fine walking by herself besides she wasn't actually listening to what Nuriko was chattering about.

Kimiko went to the first place she landed in the Shi Jin Ten Shi Sho, the spot in the gardens that was hidden from view by bushes. She found Tasuki there passed out with his face bathe in the ethereal radiance of the galaxy of stars above him. Kimiko could smell a strong scent of alcohol surrounding the fiery bandit.

~Kimiko~

* sigh * This baka bandit must have been drinking. Better see if I can wake him up because I don't think I can drag or carry him to his room.

I slapped him gently on his face and it didn't work. I tried pinching his nose cutting off his air supply and it didn't work. I forgot he sleeps like a rock. I'll get a blanket for him or he might catch a cold. Mattaku…he's got a good bed in the palace and he chooses to sleep here.

******************

Kimiko got a blanket without anyone seeing her. She went back to the spot in the gardens and knelt by Tasuki laying the blanket over him. She couldn't resist ruffling the fiery hair because Tasuki looked child-like in his sleep even though he snored gently.

As Kimiko was getting up to go back to her room, Tasuki's bleary amber eyes opened and his hand shot out grabbing Kimiko's and pulling her down towards him. She fell half on top of him. Drunkenly, his callused fingertips caressed her lower lip.

~Kimiko~

Doki doki doki. What is he doing?! His fingertips were stroking my lips. I could see he was drunk. My heart pounded, as I looked deep into his amber eyes. His eyes were drunk but I saw a hidden emotion. I shouldn't be doing this! He is drunk! But I did nothing. I felt entranced by him.

 He entangled his hand in my hair and gently pulled my head down towards his. I was caught in the moment. He was going to kiss me! He pressed my lips firmly against his.

His tongue darted out tasting my lips and trying to gain entrance. I felt locked-jawed. But he licked my lips over and over again and gently prying my lips open gaining a victorious access. He explored my mouth freely, plundered it hotly and I didn't protest. I enjoyed it!

When our tongues met I could taste sweet sake and a flavour that could only be of Tasuki. His scent filled my senses. He smelled like fresh rain, sake and a tangy fire flavour. My lungs felt like bursting and he withdrew from his exploration giving my lower lip one last sensuous lick.

I felt his hand untangle from my hair and his arm wrapping around my waist trapping me. Then I heard him snore again.

Senses alert, breathing heavily, I struggled to get out of his grasp but my strength seemed to have left me and his grasp was strong even in his sleep. Knowing it was futile to me to struggle I resigned myself to be staying there f or the night. Also Tasuki's face looked peaceful so I didn't feel like punching him to wake him up.

Laying my head on his shoulder to pillow my head I thought back to the kiss he gave me. Gentle not like how I would have expected and not like the punishing feel of what Nakago gave me to shut me up. Whoa I am starting to think and talk too much. What does this mean anyway? Do I have feelings for this fiery bandit? Deeper feelings rather than the normal lust and crush? One kiss and I feel like jelly. This is dangerous, it could weaken me but I like it. I feel like prolonging it.

Not wanting to spoil the moment and just wanting to enjoy it even if for a while I pushed the questions out of my mind. I didn't want to analyse it further. I don't think I am as strong as I thought I was…

I managed to tug a little of the blanket over myself before drifting off into dreamland in the middle of my thoughts. My last thoughts before drifting off into dreamland were of how warm and safe it felt to be in Tasuki's arms.

********************

Kimiko fell asleep protected in Tasuki's arms. Tasuki was drunk and he didn't realise what he was doing but that was probably what he wanted to do if he had the guts.

************************

Notes:  Oh My lord! @_@  Did I write that scene above? Hmnn I didn't know I could do that! Was is passionate enough or hot enough for their first kiss? Eventhough hehehe Tasuki was drunk and probably half didn't know what he was doing!

Oh well Merry Christmas minna-san! I hope this can tide you over until next year. I am not promising anything but if I can get another chapter up before I go on holiday then you guys are in luck! Don't forget to REVIEW I love reviews I practically feed off them!

This is my Christmas present to  all my loyal readers! See ya all next year sooo an advanced Merry Christmas and an advanced HAPPY NEW YEAR!  ^_^  jaaaaaaaaaaaaa neeeeeeee

~Fiery-Ice~ 

P.S: R/R onegai shimasu! Arigatou!!