Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi or Chichiri. Wish I did, tho.

"Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take..."

Everyone but Tasuki went upstairs to try and get some sleep after everything that had happened. Chichiri reached his room and opened the door to find Nakago sleeping in his bed. The monk sweatdropped. Why, of all places to sleep, did Nakago have to pick HIS room?

But Nakago was not asleep, for his voice came through the darkness as it had before. "Hmm... why aren't you going to bed? You've been through a lot today, so it seems."

Chichiri became very nervous at that point. "... B-because you're i-in my bed, no da..."

He paused. "Ah, I thought this room was unoccupied..." The warrior got up. "Please forgive me..." He then muttered something that Chichiri couldn't hear. The monk mentally made sure he didn't create a spell and that everything was as normal as they could get. "I shall find another room... Chichiri." he left, but not before turning to take a look at the monk, perhaps to study him for a sign of weakness.

Chichiri closed and locked the door behind him. "... DAAAAAAAA..." That was indeed a scary sight, seeing Nakago in your bed, especially if he's not sleeping. A few minutes later, the monk tried going to sleep, but it was no use. The bed felt like it had been contaminated after Nakago had lied in it. He then made a decision to sleep in Tasuki's room, sincce the bandit was staying awake. But Nakago may suspect something, so Chichiri used his metamorphosis technique to change into Tasuki. He then made his way to the bandit's room... only to once again find Nakago in the room, but not in the bed yet... hopefully. Chichiri tried to act as though nothing was wrong. "... Wh-what are you doing here?" He almost said 'no da', but caught himself.

Nakago looked as though he didn't notice any change at all. "Changed your mind about 'keeping guard', then, Tasuki?"

"... Yeah." Chichiri tried not to fidget at the fact that he had placed careful emphasis on the name.

"... How foolish do you think I must be? I can sense that you are not at all that... that CHILDISH idiot." The monk said nothing. "Hn. Take the disguise off." Chichiri didn't move. "As you wish..." He shut his eyes and concentrated, and Chichiri could feel his fake identity fading quickly. Nakago swiftly walked the length of the room towards the monk and hit him across the face. The blue-haired seishi said nothing still. "That is for irritating me with the fake presence of... him..." Nakago gave a look of disgust at the thought of Tasuki.

"Why are you really here, no da?" Chichiri tried so hard not to look into Nakago's eyes, but that seemed to be exactly what the Seiryu chosen wanted from him: fear.

"I know exactly who murdered your Tamahome. But I shall not reveal whom... Now, why are you so tense? You should be beyond that sort of thing around me. I have done no harm directly to you, now, have I?"

"Answer me."

"... ... ... No... no, you haven't."

Nakago smiled. "Precisely. Now I'll expect you to be a little more considerate towards me, dear Houjun... or the consequence will worsen for you and your friends. Do you understand me?"

"... Y-You disgust me, no da."

"Now, why do I disgust you?"

"I won't play into your hands, no da! And neither will the others!" How Chichiri wished he had grabbed his bamboo staff!

The blonde seishi tipped the monk's head up. "Oh, but you already have... I have plans for you if you do not cooperate with me."

Chichiri shook with anger or fear, he couldn't determine which. "... Get out of my sight, no da."

"This is not your room."

"It's not yours either."

They glared at each other for a bit. "... Very well. If you wish to sleep in here, I shall adjust accordingly."

Adjust accordingly? Chichiri wondered. I don't like the sound of that, no da...

"If you keep our little encounter quiet, I shall give you no trouble."

He didn't want to make any kind of agreement with Nakago, but the blue-haired seishi replied, "... Fine, no da. Now get out."

"... And one more thing... I will give you an idea of what will happen if you break our promise, Houjun..."

(A/N: Sorry if that sounded so yaoi-ish... but think about it, we all know how Nakago acts. He'll do anything to get what he wants.)