Insight

Chapter10

Tasuki POV

By Ambika-san

"I love you, too, no da."

At Chichiri's words, Tasuki hugged him even closer, if that was possible. He could feel Chichiri smiling against the top of his head.

"Can...C'n we stay like this fer a while?" Tasuki's voice was muffled by Chichiri's shoulder. "I don' wanna move..."

"Aa." Chichiri replied softly.

After an indeterminate length of time had passed in drowsy sweetness, Tasuki reluctantly straightened. He sighed.

"I guess we better get goin' back ta th' inn."

"Back to the inn, no da...?"

Tasuki grinned sheepishly. "Well, I kinda wanted ta thank Seiku."

Chichiri nodded. "I see, na no da. But why do we have to leave now?"

"Well, it's a pretty long walk, and I sure ain't runnin' th' whole way this time..."

"You ran all the way here? Because of me?"

Tasuki looked at the ground, rubbing the back of his neck as he mumbled something to the grass.

Chichiri smiled. He stood, and then reached down to help the bandit to his feet. Brushing aside a few stray flame-colored strands, the monk leaned and pressed his lips to Tasuki's forehead.

"There, now we're even, no da."

Tasuki grinned as Chichiri stepped away and began walking.

"Are you coming, no da? It was your idea to leave in the first place..."

"Un." Tasuki caught up to Chichiri and threaded his fingers through the monk's, causing the older man to smile.

"Ne, 'Chiri, where're we gonna go after this?"

"I don't have anything planned, no da. Was there somewhere you wanted to go?"

"Well, I was thinkin' that we ain't been ta see Kouji an' the guys fer a while..."

Chichiri nodded. "You're right. Let's go to Mt. Reikaku after we find Seiku, no da."

They walked a few paces in silence, and then Tasuki spoke.

"Ya know, um, it's gonna take us a while to walk to the inn..."

"Yes, it will, no da."

"And we dunno how long Seiku's gonna be stayin' there..."

"That's true, no da..."

"So maybe it'd be better if ya just teleported us there?"

Chichiri laughed. "I was wondering when you'd ask, no da."

Tasuki blinked. "Ya mean..."

"I guess it's all right, just this once, na no da." The mage smiled. "Just don't get used to it."

Tasuki grinned as he watched Chichiri prepare the spell for their transportation. 'I knew he'd give in one day...'

With a final "No da!", Chichiri struck his staff against his kesa, which he had spread on the ground. The dirt-smudged cloak seemed to ripple out from the point that had been struck, smoothing out into a glowing whiteness.

The blue-haired seishi gestured to the glow. "After you, no da!"

Tasuki stepped into the spell, and began to sink through immediately. As soon as the last of his wild red hair had disappeared, Chichiri stepped through as well.

Tasuki was pleasantly surprised when he ended up standing next to the inn where they had stayed two nights before, instead of in the tree next to it. When Chichiri appeared beside him a few seconds later, Tasuki turned to him.

"Ya been practicin'? Yer landings're gettin' better."

"Well, I couldn't listen to you complain forever, now could I, no da?"

"Hey!" Tasuki mock-glared at him. "Geez, ya try ta give a guy a compliment..."

Chichiri laughed. "Come on, no da..." He grabbed the younger man's hand and led him into the building.

Once again, as soon as he got inside, Chichiri headed toward Raika's corner.

'Does she spend all day there, or what?' Tasuki wondered.

Raika looked up as they approached. "Chichiri-sama, are you all right?" she eyed the scratches and bruises that were still visible, though no longr bleeding.

"I'm fine, no da. These are nothing too serious."

Raika looked a little skeptical, but moved past the subject. "I didn't know you'd be returning," she said, sounding worried. "I'm afraid I gave your room away."

"That's all right, Raika-san. We really only returned because we wanted to know if a certain guest was still here, no da."

"Oh? Who are you looking for?"

"A man named Seiku, no da." Chichiri said. "Do you know him?"

"Seiku..." Raika's forehead wrinkled in thought. "Oh! You mean the young man with the blue

hair?" At Chichiri's nod, she continued. "Yes, he's still here."

Tasuki stepped forward. "D'ya have any idea where he is?"

"I think he was about to leave. He may come through here soon."

As if on cue, the door across the room opened, and a familiar figure walked in. He had a rucksack slung over his shoulder, and did, indeed, look as though he was about to leave. He looked up, and purple eyes widened as he caught sight of Tasuki.

"Genrou?"

"Seiku!" Tasuki grinned.

Seiku rushed over. "And you must be Chichiri...Say, are you okay? You look a little...scruffled."

Chichiri blinked. "Scruffled, no da? Is that a word?"

Seiku thought for a moment. "I dunno..." He brightened again. "Y'know, Genrou wouldn't stop talking about you..."

Tasuki blushed, and Chichiri smiled. Seiku walked around them, studying the couple. When he stood in front of them again, he reached out and dusted a bit of dirt off Chichiri's shoulder. Then he grinned. "I approve!"

It was Tasuki's turn to blink.

Seiku turned to Chichiri. "You have my permission to date Genrou."

Chichiri turned pink.

"Seiku...." Tasuki groaned.

Seiku tilted his head to one side. "What, you didn't tell him yet?"

"No, I did--"

Seiku looked distressed. "Then, he doesn't feel the same way?"

"No, he does--"

"Oh, good! I'm happy for you!" The now-grinning purple-eyed man promptly glomped Tasuki.

"Ack!" Tasuki flailed his arms, trying to stay upright. Failing, he toppled over backwards.

"Seiku....!" he growled.

The owner of the name bounced up happily. He extended a hand to help Tasuki up. "Aw, I was just kidding around." His face grew more serious. "I didn't expect to see you again. What brings you back here?"

"Ah...actually, I wanted ta thank ya," Tasuki accepted Seiku's help, and the shorter man pulled Tasuki to his feet. "If I hadn't talked t'you, I mighta never said anythin' ta 'Chiri..."

Seiku grinned. "Always glad to help."

"So, where are you going now, Seiku? If we're heading in the same direction, we'd be happy to travel with you, no da."

Tasuki nodded his agreement.

"Actually, I wasn't really sure where I was headed. Where are the two of you off to?"

"We're goin' ta Mt. Reikaku. Been too long since we seen th' guys."

Seiku's eyes widened. He was silent for a moment, staring at the floor, and then he looked up at Tasuki and Chichiri. "Um, this might sound a little weird, but..." Seiku swallowed.

"Could I go with you?"

---To be continued.