Disclaimer: The characters of Fushigi Yuugi do not belong to me. They belong to Yuu Watase-san. So please don't sue me. Unless you want textbooks as your settlement.

Author's note: Gomen, minna-san. I lied. This chapter will be the last one for a while. ^^;; I read over what I had and found that the next chapter isn't entirely finished so~ I won't be posting for a while. But I didn't put two up ^^ so that's something, ne? Anyway, Enjoy!

Chapter 8

She woke up to a shining sun and squinted. She groaned and tried to go back to sleep. Her body ached all over and she didn't want to move. Her head hurt, too.

"Ya might as well get up."

Ruri groaned again and forced herself to sit up. Tasuki went over to help her up.

"Ohayo, Tasuki," Ruri said in a tired voice.

Tasuki smirked. "You're a little late on that. It's afternoon."

"Oh… well, then… konnichiwa."

Tasuki blinked and laughed, "I see you're better."

Ruri gave a small smile. "I guess so."

Tasuki patted her head. "I know you are." Ruri's face turned red and Tasuki grinned. "So are ya hungry? I'll get ya some food."

"Actually, I want to take a bath."

Tasuki nodded, "Ok. I'll get a bath ready for you."

"Arigato."

Several minutes later, a bath was made ready behind a folding screen.

Tasuki looked at Ruri. "Do you need any help?"

Ruri shook her head. "Could you just put my clothes and some bandages next to the bath and help me over there?"

Tasuki looked at her quizzically. "I could you help you with the bandages." He saw Ruri's eyes panic for a second before she closed her eyes. He mentally beat himself. 'Jackass,' he told himself.

'It's Tasuki. Only Tasuki. He wouldn't do anything to harm you.' She thought to herself. With that mentality she opened her eyes. "Thanks but I want to do this," she placed a hand on her chest, "by myself."

Tasuki nodded, "Sure." And he helped Ruri over to the bath. He turned to leave.

"Ne, Tasuki?"

"Nani?"

"Could you stay in the room with me?" Tasuki sweatdropped. "Not with me here, but just in the room?"

Tasuki put a hand on her shoulder. "Still a little jumpy, huh?" Ruri looked down and nodded. "No problem. I'll have them bring some food while you take a bath."

"Arigato." She started to turn but turned back. "You can wait over there at the table." Tasuki gave her a look and Ruri gave a small smile.

He went over to the door to ask for some food as Ruri carefully and slowly lowered herself into the bath. She didn't bother to tie her hair back because her arms ached. As she leaned back, Ruri sighed and watched as her hair float on the water in front of her. She felt every muscle in her body relax and the soreness leave. She sighed again.

"Oi. Daijoubu ka?" She heard Tasuki ask on the other side of the screen.

"Eh? Hai." Ruri was thankful that Tasuki couldn't see her blushing face. She relaxed again. 'A good bath is always welcome.' She looked at her cuts and bruises. 'I should thank Tasuki for saving me and taking care of me.' She smiled.

~~~

Tasuki brought in the tray of food and set it on the table, removing all her papers and such first. He sat down with his back towards the screen. He had a pensive look on his face, which was rare for the red- haired bandit. Now that he knew he loved her, what was he supposed to do? 'Do I tell her? Do I talk to her about it? Shit, this is so fuckin' annoying! What the hell am I supposed to do?!' His amber eyes flickered in annoyance. 'Damn women. If it's not one thing it's another. I guess I'll talk to her, I just have to find the right time. So I guess I go on like normal.'

A splash of water cut his train of thought and he quickly looked over to see if anything happened to Ruri. The Seishi's eyes widened and a faint blush settled across his face. Through the folding screen he saw the silhouette of Ruri's body slowly coming up from the bath. He became mesmerized as he traced the outline of her body. Every curve and movement he saw, he memorized.

THUMP and a short yelp snapped Tasuki back to reality and rushed over to Ruri.

She was dressed and in her robe, crumpled on the floor, silently gasping in pain. "Ita-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta~i."

"Oi, daijoubu? What the hell happened?" Tasuki asked.

Ruri slowly sat up and looked up at Tasuki. "I tried to walk over to the table, but I kinda fell."

Tasuki stifled a laugh and gently helped her up. "If ya don't be careful you'll reopen your wounds." He set her on the bed and started look at her leg and head. She had bandaged up the wound on her chest. No matter how carefully and gently he bandaged up the cut of her leg, he could feel her quiver. Looking at her eyes, though, she was being brave about it. Then he looked at her ankle, the swelling was still a bit bad and he quickly wrapped it. When he went to look at her head, she backed up a little.

He looked at her. "Don't worry."

Ruri gave a shaky nod. Tasuki looked at the bump on her head and saw that it was much better. A smaller bandage would do. While he put on the bandage, Ruri stared straight ahead trying not the think about it. 'Tasuki's not going to do anything. Why should you be afraid of him? You know him. And he won't do anything.'

"There. Finished." Tasuki said.

"Arigato."

"Why don't ya eat something? I made sure this was waiting for you." Tasuki pointed to the food.

"I'm- I'm not that hungry," Ruri said quietly.

"Listen, you need to eat something. Or else you won't get better."

"De-demo…… I don't think I can really eat anything right now."

Tasuki sighed and picked up some rice with the chopsticks, "At least eat a couple bites." He held it up for her. Ruri looked at him, at the rice, and then back at Tasuki. She slowly opened her mouth and Tasuki popped the rice in her mouth. "There." And when she finished swallowing her bite, Tasuki had another chopstick full ready for her.

This time Ruri smiled, "You know I do know how to feed myself."

"Yeah, but I don't trust you. This way I know you're going to eat something."

After half a bowl, Ruri shook her head. "Tasuki, I really can't eat anymore."

Tasuki put down the chopsticks. "No problem."

Ruri slowly climbed into bed and lied down. "Ne, Tasuki. Arigato, for everything. And I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused."

Tasuki closed his eyes. "It's alright. And you didn't cause any trouble. That gang was bound to make trouble. You just happened to be in their way."

Ruri sat up, "Demo…"

Tasuki stopped her before she said anything else. "It's the least I can do, ok? You haven't been trouble and it's no big deal. You helped me so I'm helping you." Tasuki smirked.

Ruri gave a small smile and closed her eyes. "But still… arigato."

~~~

Several days went by and Ruri's wounds were healing slowly. Most of her cuts and bruises and the bump on her head had completely healed. Her two cuts were still there but as a light line and her ankle was half the size of what it was.

One morning, Tasuki and Ruri were sitting at the table, Ruri eating breakfast, having mixed feeling that she was finally going to be able to get out of the room. All the bandits were men. And Ruri was still slightly frightened when Kouji and Takeshi were in the room with Tasuki.

Tasuki watched Ruri as she slowly ate her food. He knew that she was thinking about leaving the room that day. And he figured that it would be hard on her. He ordered all the men to take it easy with Ruri and for not all of them to be in one place all at once. He was going to help her trust again. "Don't worry Ruri," he said all of a sudden.

Ruri looked up in surprise, "Eh?"

"I'm gonna be with you the whole time. You don't have to worry. Remember, I'll protect you."

Ruri gave a thankful smile. "Arigato."

A knock came at the door. "Konnichiwa! Who's there? It's Kouji, best friend of Genrou and Ruri-chan. May I come in? Sure!" He opened the door, "Arigato."

"Yo," Tasuki greeted his best friend.

"Hi Kouji," Ruri said, quietly.

Koji's smile softened. "Hey Ruri-chan. Still shook up?" He sat down at the table across from her. "You'll get over it soon. I know you will." Kouji winked. "You're strong."

Ruri gave a small smile. "Thanks. How've you been?"

"Pretty good," the blue-haired bandit replied. He dug through his pockets and pulled something out. "Close your eyes." He instructed her.

Ruri pulled back and her eyes widened. Tasuki smacked hi best friend over the head. "Baka! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"My bad! Sorry! I'm not going to do anything! I just want to give her something." He turned to Ruri, "Suman. Hold out your hand."

Slowly, Ruri did so, a little suspicious. Kouji placed something cold in her hands and Ruri took a look. Here eyes widened. "Kirei~." In her hands was the most beautiful pair of earrings she's ever seen. They were gold and of a small yet delicate bird that was perched on a pearl. She looked at Kouji, "But why?"

"We're just glad you're safe. A token of friendship." Kouji said.

Ruri got up and slowly hobbled towards Kouji until she was right in front of him. "Arigato," she said. She then hugged him.

Kouji was a little surprised that she was hugging him but he hugged back. "I told ya," he said. "You're strong." They pulled away and she smiled.

Tasuki watched what was happening. 'Remind me to get you a huge bottle of sake later Kouji.' He said to himself. Then figuring that they might as well take her out, he stood up. "Hey, Ruri, are you ready?"

Ruri turned to Tasuki and slowly nodded, "Hai. Might as well hurry up."

"Like you can hurry up," Tasuki commented. "Because of your ankle, you're a freakin' slug."

"I resent that comment." Ruri said. "That's an exaggeration."

"Fine, then, you're as slow as a turtle." Ruri stuck out her tongue at Tasuki and Kouji sweatdropped. Then Tasuki stuck out his tongue and then laughed. "At least you still have your sense of humor."

Kouji blinked. Hearing Genrou say something like that was pretty rare. Kouji smiled. 'It seems he finally realized it. Hehe.'

The three of them then headed out the door. As they were walking through the halls Ruri saw several of the men and when they saw her they smiled. She smiled back but the whole time she was holding on to Tasuki's arm. After several minutes and encountering more of the men, Ruri was annoyed at herself. 'This is stupid,' she thought. 'These guys aren't going to hurt me. Some of them are practically harmless! Just because of the stupid incident, I'm suddenly afraid of men. Well, for good reason, I guess but still! I like hanging out with these guys. I'm going to overcome this today.'

"Hey, Ruri, ya wanna go outside?" Tasuki asked.

Ruri set her eyes with determination and nodded. "Un. Let's go."

Outside, more men were lounging or training. They all saw Tasuki, Kouji, and Ruri arrive and they all waved. Tasuki and Kouji nodded in acknowledgement and Ruri slowly raised her hand and waved. The two bandits noticed her waving and grinned. The rest of the day, Ruri almost became her normal self amongst the men, just a little more reserved. But it was better than nothing Tasuki and Kouji said while discussing with each other.

Ruri felt like she was almost her normal self but she knew sometimes she had to steel herself. But it was a first important step.