Forbidden: SMFY(Pure Snow)
Chapter 7
loupgarou7(loupgarou72@gurlmail.com)

Whoa! Chapter 7!!! If you don't know why I've been inactive for so long, it's coz of
DSL. My family had DSL, DSL went bankrupt, new company took over, the company's going to take
another month to be running properly. Right now I've sent Chapters 8-11 to my editor so look for
those later on but of course to get this out faster I didn't send this to my editor so excuse me
for the mistakes. Umm...this mp3 I got from Napster. In order to get it try going into the
Search page. Type in Utena for artist and Saikai for song. It should turn up, but if it
doesn't I definitly recommend that you wait an hour or two. This song is DEFINITELY
worth it. Even though it doesn't have any vocals it's still one of my favorites! And if
you do find it yes, Scarlet-tachi no Butou is supposed to be before Saikai. Hey...
just out of curiousity do you readers actually listen to the mp3s while reading or am i
just wasting time searching for mp3s? Oh, and remind you this is rated
PG-13!!!
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"Hmph! The only good thing about this is if Nakago shows up I can teach him a
thing or two. Why me???? Why couldn't Chiriko do it? or Mitsukake? Hahaha of course I'm
pleased that they acknowledge that I'm one of the strongest and would be the best to
defeat Nakago, and yea, I guess I'm glad that I don't have to be stuck with that
Tamahome guy but WHY ME???" Tasuki rambled on.

Usagi meanwhile rolled her eyes and prayed to God someone would shut him up.
Under usual circumstances she would've been bawling a river but of course Miaka's
explanation of Tasuki and his weird behavior assuaged her fears that she was stuck with
a guy who hated her.

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(FLASHBACK)

"Psst! Hey Usagi! Come here!" Miaka called out from one of the horses.

Usagi quickly scanned the area to make sure no one was watching her. Tasuki was
still whining about not wanting to go, Hotohori was still making preparations, and the
others were helping with packing and the horses. Usagi satisfied that she wouldn't be
caught snuck over. "Miaka? What's wrong?" she asked concerned.

"Nothings wrong....with me. But lemme tell you some things 'bout Tasuki, 'k?"
Miaka winked, "after all you'll be spending the next month with him and without the
expertness of 'Miaka's guide to Tasuki' you'd be so confused."

"Ummm...ok," Usagi said confused.

"OK!!! Ok Tasuki's a mountain bandit. His bandit name's Genro so I guess when
you get to his bandit hideout you should call him that. Don't worry there not THAT kind of
bandits. There like...ummm...you know that guy we read about in school! Hobin Rood!
O yea! And whatever you do, you absolutely MUST keep him away from alcohol!!!!!
He says he hates girls but don't worry he'll protect you from Nakago. Umm...ok what
else is there...oh yea! Don't worry Tasuki's just an old softy at heart but he's obnoxious
sometimes. If he is just ignore him k?" Miaka racked her brain for more on Tasuki.

"Usagi-san, " Chiriko touched her shoulder slightly, "You'll be leaving soon."

"Leaving?" Miaka said quietly. Then she and Usagi both burst into tears and hugged
each other with wails of "I'LL MISS YOU!!!"

When Miaka and her tearfully parted and Chiriko and Miaka ran ahead Usagi lingered
behind watching them. They got along so well together. And while she knew she had her
senshi she couldn't help but envy them. Especially Tamahome and Miaka. She smiled as she
saw Tamahome repeatedly sneak glances over to Miaka when he though no one was watching.
She realized that some else besides herself was watching him watch Miaka. Tasuki talked with
Nuriko but it was obvious his mind was else where as he snuck glances over to Tamahome.
She lightly touched the broach on her chest. She had found it after the ceremony on her
dresser. As Nuriko and Tasuki's conversation ended Tasuki's eyes wandered to other places.
Like Usagi. She blushed as she realized she was staring and turned crimson and she saw
him smile. 'God, this is going to be so awkward!!!!!' she thought in her head as she
hurried over to join in Miaka's and Chichiri's conversation.

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

It had been a week since that time. Usagi smiled fondly at the memory. "And of COURSE
I'll be glad to see my pal Kouji, but it isn't the same!" Usagi was brought back to earth
as her train of thought was overrun by Tasuki's loud complaining. She again wished
someone would just shut him up. "Hey you! Stupid horse! Go faster!" Tasuki kicked the horse
and it abruptly stopped. "AGH! Dumb beast!" Tasuki began to barrage the horse verbally and
physically which just made the horse madder and madder. The horse could only stand so much
until it neighed and rose up on it's hind legs dumping Tasuki behind it. It then happily trotted
on towards Usagi and her horse. Usagi, happy her prayers were answered, hugged the horse and
patted it. The horse, loving the attention, rubbed up against Usagi's leg like a cat
and almost bumped Usagi's horse off the road. "RETARDED HORSE!!! COME BACK HERE!!!" Tasuki took
off running towards them, "USAGI, DO SOMETHING!!!!!" Usagi of course urged the horses to go
faster.

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'CAPTURE HER' Nakago furiously wrote on Suboshi's arm making him cry out from pain.
When no response came Nakago growled and wrote it again harder this time. He waited again
but no response came. "Why? Why isn't he answering?" Nakago growled taking Suboshi
by both shoulders and shaking him roughly.

"Nakago-san, do you realize what you're asking? You're asking Amiboshi to blow his
cover and ruin the trap you set for the Suzaku seishi! If Amiboshi blows his cover, we
don't have anything on them!" Suboshi cringed and waited for Nakago to hit him.

Nakago slowly let go of Suboshi. As much as he didn't want to admit it Suboshi was
right. He had to wait. He had the Suzaku seishi in the palm of his hand and asking Amiboshi
to capture her would be like letting them go. He took several deep, calming breaths before
marching out of the room. But the deep, calming breaths didn't stop him from punching the
door(and obliterating it) on the way out.


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(Meanwhile)

Amiboshi snored peacefully in his sleep...

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Nakago pace furiously in his room after just having scene Usagi's current situation via
a magical clam shell. Surely, SURELY there HAD to be a way for Usagi to...what? His mind grinded
to a halt. To want to come back to him. His mind began racing again. She had to be in an
uncomfortable situation created by someone she was with. And of course that wouldn't happen
unless he made it. He smiled he knew just the spell. But then his smile disappeared. 'Tasuki',
the guy she was with was one of the Suzaku shichi seishi. His being so would clash with a control
spell from the servant of any other god but Suzaku, AND even if Nakago suceeded in controlling
him of course that annoying but strong blue haired monk would sense it. It was best to cast the
spell on someone from Tasuki's past that she would meet. But who?

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"We're stopping over there," Tasuki indicated towards the house they were approaching.

"But why? it's not even dark yet! We could go a lot further!" Usagi protested on top of
Tasuki's former horse.

Tasuki growled, "Yea, well you weren't the one who had to chase some ungrateful, bratty
girl and two horses for six miles!"

Usagi flinched. It had been funny at the time. "So...what is this place?" she stared at
Tasuki waiting for an answer.

"It's..." he refused to meet her eyes, "it's a rest stop. Yea. Whadya think it was?" He
stopped his horse and roughly grabbed Usagi's arm. "I'll go inside and get us a room. You STAY
out here until I come back. Don't talk to anyone, don't LOOK at anyone!"

"T-tasuki...it hurts," Usagi winced.

"I don't care! Understand?"

Usagi nodded vigorously. Once he was satisfied and released her arm she set to work
rubbing it. When they reached the house he jumped off and repeated his words to her again
firmly. After she agreed again he went inside.

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

"Akane!" Tasuki shouted above the din, "Gimme a room for two!"

"Genro!" she went to him surprised, "Been a long time! After you left you know Sakura
went after you. She never did find you, but she sent me a letter a week ago saying she should
be back soon."

"Don't tell Sakura-chan I was here," Tasuki commanded.

"Oh...I see," Akane cast her eyes down, "So will you be requiring our....services in
your two bed room?"

"No!" Tasuki said abruptly, "They're for..." he stopped as he saw Akane cock her
eyebrows, "It's not like that! You get the keys and I'll bring 'em here. When she comes
in here DON'T talk to her and don't let anyone else."

Akane hmphed, "What? So, she's too good to associate with people like us???"

"Yea...yea she is." and all Akane could do was gape as Tasuki walked out.

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

Usagi nervously twiddled with the reigns of the horse while waiting for Tasuki.
'Why? Why did he say those things?' she wondered. Just then something rubbed up against her
bottom. She stiffened but thought that it was probably an accident and let it go. However
when it happened again she whirled around to see the face of an obviously drunken man not much
older than her.

"Hey, babe. Lesh goh up ta mah rohm! Yull hab a fun time wid me and mah friendsh!"
He spoke loudly and Usagi wrinkled her nose at the terrible smell emitting from his mouth.

"I..umm..no.." Usagi blushed and backed away.

"Wuh? Behing difhicult, huh?" he winked. "Well, I'll pay you douhble da amount!"
he declared and with amazing speed hooked his arm around Usagi's waist and literally dragged
her towards the house.

Usagi once again stiffened and choked down a scream. She did NOT want a commotion and
she did NOT want Tasuki mad at her again so she attempted to act civil. "Please, sir. Let
me go." She tried to push him away gently. The man laughed and leaned in for a kiss. Usagi
frantically struggled but when her efforts were futile she closed her eyes and braced
herself, terrified...only to be flung to the ground and hear the sounds of cursing and
someone being beaten up. She looked up to see her savior Tasuki pounding away at the drunkard.

"-AND DON'T FRICKIN' GET NEAR HER EVER AGAIN!!" she heard him say and she looked
away as he gave the drunkard a final hard kick. She continued to lock her eyes onto the
tiny weed growing from the ground even as she heard him walk over. "Baka," he muttered
gently dusting away the dirt on her clothes, "I told you not to talk to anyone or do
anything." He took her by the arms and gingerly set her upright. He said in a softer
tone, "Yer not hurt or anything are you?" Usagi who had been containing her tears until
then launched herself towards him and proceeded sobbing into his chest. Tasuki sighed,
"Oh well, might as well ruin both of our clothes. We can wash them together..." but he
still put his arms around her to comfort the distraught girl.

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

"This place...it isn't a rest stop is it?" Usagi asked from futon.

"Bingo, ya just won five thousand dollars!" Tasuki replied from his not too far
away. After a moment or two he answered the question that he knew was nagging her. "A
brothel. It's a brothel."

Usagi gasped. And then she thought about another question, "How do you know about
this place? How do you know the people here?"

"Shut up and go to sleep," was his answer and he sprawled himself out carelessly.
Snoring filled the air minutes later.

Usagi stayed awake staring up at the ceiling. She turned and noticed Tasuki's
hand was outside of the futon half-way to hers. After a moment of hesitation, she took
her hand out from beneath the covers and laid it on his. "Tasuki," she felt foolish
speaking to him when he wouldn't hear her but continued on, "Thanks..." she smiled now
that she felt better and fell asleep her snores intermingling with Tasuki's seconds later
and her hand still holding Tasuki's.




In the next chapter of Pure Hearts: Tasuki and Kouji! Back together again. (Get ready for
their bandit dance!)