Author's Note: Chapter 13 was a snap to type . Woohoo. I hope everyone is enjoying the last couple of chapters. After all those action packed chapters, a little lighthearted-ness is always good ) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The wonderful characters of Fushigi Yuugi do not rightly belong to me. I'm only borrowing them for creative purposes. Please not lawsuits. Poor as dirt. Domo.
Chapter 13
Two servants approached the four and they followed them. As they were walking, Ruri had a thought and turned to Tasuki, "Ne, Gen-chan?"
"Hm? Nanda?" He stopped and looked at her as the others continued walking.
"I guess there's no way for us to stay in the same room, huh?"
Everyone around her sweatdropped. "Probably not," Tasuki said, slightly pink in the cheeks.
Ruri sighed, Damn the ancient conservative ways. Then she jumped when something, or someone, crept up next to her ear.
"It doesn't mean that you can't visit," Tasuki whispered softly in her ear.
Ruri shivered with delight. She saw that the others were slightly ahead of them. Ruri quickly turned to face Tasuki and quickly kissed him. "I'll take up that offer," she said and went to catch up with the others.
Tasuki blinked and then smirked. That little minx.
Soon, everyone was in their respective rooms getting ready for dinner and a lazy night. With the sleeping arrangements, Ruri found out she was several rooms and around a corner away from the men. Oh well, when in Ancient China…
Chichiri stopped by for several minutes to see if she was settling in okay and to talk about something he mentioned in passing earlier when they were at the stronghold.
"He doesn't know does he, no da."
Ruri shook her head, "Nope, I didn't say anything to him."
Chichiri smiled, "Good. This will be a great surprise, no da."
"It sure will," Ruri said with a smile.
After a long bath and wearing a simple dress, Ruri went outside and started wandering around the palace grounds. She eventually reached a small garden and her brown eyes drank in the beauty while she breathed in the sweet air. The flowers were in full bloom, enticing the air with their sweet aroma. Threes were set here and there with a bench underneath to provide shade for their visitor. Butterflies fluttered from flower to flower, bees busily hovered over them to gather food and birds chirped gaily, hidden in the trees. Stretching up, Ruri took a deep breath and promptly sneezed. Okay, so I won't breath that deeply. And since her sneeze disrupted the stretch, she went to stretch again.
A pair of arms wrapped around her waist as she finished and Ruri turned to see Tasuki staring at her with amber eyes that seemed like they were glowing. He broke their gaze to look around, "This was Nuriko's favorite place. Hotohori-sama's as well."
"I always wanted to see this garden. It's more beautiful than I imagined." She turned to face Tasuki and wrapped her arms around his neck. They met for a soft, tender kiss.
As they parted lips, they both saw a figure standing several meters away. As the person came closer, the two quickly pulled away and turned red when they realized whom it was.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything," the empress said, smiling. "I heard from Chichiri-san that you were looking after a young lady. I did not know that she was that close to you. I am very happy for you Tasuki-san." The two turned pink again.
Before anyone could say anything, a voice was heard, "Boushin-sama! Please come back!"
A small blur then came by and hid behind Houki. Soon, an out of breath man entered the garden and bowed when he saw the Empress. "I'm sorry Your Majesty. I seemed to have lost sight of His Highness."
Houki smiled as a small head peeked out from behind her. "It seems like he did not feel like a bath. You may go." The bowed and left.
"This is my son, Boushin." Houki said, introducing Ruri to the small boy.
Ruri knelt down and smiled, "Hello Boushin. I'm Ruri. May I call you Boushin-chan?"
Still holding onto Houki's dress, Boushin shyly nodded and smiled. "Hai." Then he looked past Ruri and saw Tasuki. His shy exterior fell as he bolted to the bandit, "Uncle Tasuki!"
Tasuki scooped up the boy and gave a fanged grin, "Yo, Boushin. How are ya? Been good?"
Boushin nodded, eyes wide. "Did you bring me a present?"
"Boushin!" His mother scolded gently.
Tasuki laughed, "Sure did, kid. How 'bout I give it to ya at dinner?"
The little boy nodded and turned to his mother. "Okaa-sama? May we go eat dinner now?"
Houki shook her head. "Not until you have your bath, young man."
Boushin's brow furrowed and then he tugged at Houki's gown. "Let's go take a bath, Okaa-sama!" The three laughed as Boushin continued to pull his mother.
"Very well," she turned to Tasuki and Ruri. "I will see you at dinner."
The two watched Houki and Boushin leave, smiling. Tasuki turned towards Ruri to ask her something but instead saw her looking at him with shiny, sparkling eyes. "Nani?"
"You were so cute with Boushin-chan!" She squealed. "I never knew you were so adorable around children!"
A light blush splashed across his face. "Uresei."
Since the big celebration was not for another couple of days, the four spent the days in luxury. Chichiri did a lot of meditating, Kouji did a lot of flirting, and Tasuki and Ruri did a lot of talking and "talking". The best time, however, was when everyone was together including Boushin. Since they were with a four year old, they played all sorts of games and were just silly.
The afternoon of the celebration, everyone was outside in the garden enjoying the warm weather. Ruri was playing with Boushin while others sat around watching them and talking.
Boushin squealed with laughter, "You can't catch me Ruri nee-chan!"
"Oh yeah? We'll see about that!" Ruri started chasing the small boy. Both were laughing.
Just as Ruri almost caught up with the boy, Kouji asked her a question, "Oi, Ruri, how old are you?"
Ruri paused and stuck her tongue out at the blue haired bandit. Then she continued to chase Boushin.
"You'd think she was three." Tasuki said.
"Don't you think it's a little disturbing to have a little girl as a lover?"
Tasuki sighed, "You have a point Kouji."
All of a sudden a shoe hit each of the bandits in the face. The two grimaced in pain and fell when something hit their heads – Ruri's fists. Chichiri sweatdropped at the spectacle and when Boushin hid behind him.
"I guess I can just sleep in my own room since I need to grow up, huh?" Ruri said, glaring at the two.
"O-oi." Tasuki began.
"No, no," Ruri interrupted. "I see how it is. Fine." She started to walk away.
Tasuki grabbed her arm, "Oi, we went to far. I'm sorry." He then glared at Kouji.
"Yeah, we shouldn't have gone that low." Kouji said, catching on.
Ruri tried to struggle out of Tasuki's grip, but he wouldn't let her. Instead, he pulled in to a hug. "I'm really sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Ruri relaxed and hugged back. "That was really mean."
"I know, I know. We won't take it that far. Promise."
Ruri kissed him on the cheek and looked around, "Now, where's the young prince." She started looking around.
Tasuki smacked Kouji upside the head and glared at him, "Thanks a lot, aho!" Kouji sweatdropped.
Ruri looked around until she saw a small hand poking out from behind Chichiri. With a coy smile, she crept up to Chichiri and suddenly jumped, trying to curve her way around the now SD monk. Boushin squealed and started running around Chichiri as Ruri followed.
"I'm going to get you, Boushin-chan!" Ruri said.
With a small squeal Boushin ran faster, "Nu-uh!"
"Uh-huh!"
"Nu-uh!"
"Uh-huh!"
The poor monk remained SD, trying not to get in the crossfire. "Da." Tasuki and Kouji shook their heads at the sight.
Boushin and Ruri were now staring at each other across Chichiri, each having a glint in their eye. At the same time, they jumped in the same direction and ran into each other, toppling onto Chichiri. Ruri made sure to hold onto Boushin when they ran into each other so he wouldn't get seriously injured.
Two short screams and a "DA!" later, the three were in a pile with Chichiri at the bottom and Ruri holding Boushin.
Ruri quickly sat up and off of Chichiri and looked at Boushin. "Boushin-chan, daijoubu? Are you hurt?" Concern filled her voice and eyes.
Boushin quickly looked at himself, then looked at Ruri and smiled. He gave her a hug, "Arigato! You protected me!"
Ruri sighed with relief and made sure he didn't have any major injuries. While she did that, the two bandits helped Chichiri.
"Oi, daijoubu?" Tasuki asked the frazzled monk.
"Hai, no da. I think, no da." Chichiri said weakly.
Ruri and Boushin went up to Chichiri, looked at each other and then at Chichiri again. "Gomen, Chichiri," Ruri said. "Gomen nasai, Uncle Chichiri," Boushin said at the same time.
"You're right Genrou. She is three." Kouji commented. Very soon the blue haired bandit was sprawled on the ground with a lump on his head. Ruri was standing over him, massaging her fist and the two men sweatdropped.
"You didn't learn your lesson did you, baka." Tasuki said.
Ruri turned to the young prince. "Remember, Boushin-chan, never grow up to be like him."
"I see he hasn't caused you any trouble," a voice said. They all turned and saw Houki walking towards them.
"Okaa-sama!" Boushin called out. He ran over to his mother to give her a hug.
Houki smiled and bent down to hug her son. She stood up and turned to the others. "I've arranged a bath in the hot springs for all of you and I have also ordered some clothes for the celebration."
"Arigato gozaimasu," they said.
"That's really nice of you, Houki-san." Ruri added.
Houki smiled, "You are all very important people to me. It's the least I can do. Now, I suggest that you start soon. Preparation takes a bit of time." With that she left with Boushin to get themselves ready.
Ruri pinned up her hair and stepped into the warm-hot spring. With a serene smile, she submerged her entire body up to her neck. She figured she would relax some before washing. It's not everyday one can spend time in a hot spring like this and she was going to take full advantage. She lazily drew circles on the surface of the water, humming to herself. If I had this back home, no one would see me. Either that, or I'll be making some money.
Absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't hear someone creeping up behind her, so when that someone clamped onto her shoulders, she yelped and swam away from the unknown arms. When she was several meters away, Ruri slowly turned, hugging herself, to se who it was and she sweatdropped. "Tasuki, do you enjoy shortening my life?"
The orange haired Seishi was at the edge of the spring, smirking.
"You shouldn't even… be…" her words were forgotten the minute she saw Tasuki make his way into the spring, not wearing anything. "Gah," was all that came out of her mouth.
As Tasuki made his way towards Ruri, he chuckled when her saw her expression. "You weren't expecting me, were you?"
Speechless Ruri just shook her head. He was now right in front of her, tracing her face with his finger. He saw that she still had her arms wrapped around herself and smirked. "Oi, it's not like I haven't seen you naked before."
That's when Ruri was able to find her voice. "How'd you get in here?"
Tasuki winked and gave a fanged grin, "Sore wa himitsu da," he said softly. All Ruri could do was try not to resort to drooling and turning to Jello when he said that.
Tasuki pulled her close to him and kissed her. The only thing Ruri knew was that she had to kiss back.
When they pulled back, slightly panting, Ruri was back to herself again. She smiled coyly and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing up against him. "Am I really that irresistible to you, Gen-chan?"
Ruri," Tasuki said, "A hundred Nakagos couldn't keep me away from you."
This time Ruri smirked. "Then you wouldn't mind if I did this?" She turned around and undid her hair and Tasuki watched as her dark brown hair tumbled down her back.
He reached to touch her hair but it slipped from her fingers as he saw Ruri go under water. Several seconds later, she popped up several meters away where Tasuki knew it would be deep. He was in water waist-high and he wasn't going to go any further. He glared at her, "Oi, get your ass back here!"
"Why?"
"Because…"
"Aw, Tasuki. It's not so bad. The water comes up to my neck."
"No. You come here. No fuckin' way I'm going in deeper."
Ruri pouted, "Fine, fine." She took a deep breath and went underwater.
Tasuki went to the edge of the spring and sat down. Soon, Ruri appeared at his side and sat next to him. "Better?" She asked. He nodded. Then she got an idea. "Ne, Gen-chan, scoot up a bit."
With a questioning look, he did. Ruri sat behind him and put her hands on his shoulders and started massaging them.
"Damn!" Tasuki said after a pause. "You're good! Why didn't you say you were good at massagin'?"
Ruri shrugged, "Slipped my mind." Tasuki sweatdropped.
Outside the doors, voices were heard, "Ruri-sama? Daijoubu desuka?"
Ruri's eyes widened, "Eh hai!"
"Are you ready to dry off?"
"Not yet! Give me a couple more minutes please!"
"Hai." And the voice left.
Tasuki and Ruri sighed with relief. Ruri leaned against him. "I think it's time you left."
He nodded. "You're probably right." He got out and retrieved his robe that was in a small bundle. He gave a quick kiss to Ruri and quickly left.
After he left, Ruri went into a fit of silent laughter. After several minutes, she composed herself and was able to finish her bath.
Kouji and Chichiri turned when the door opened and they saw a smirking Tasuki.
"So you did see Ruri-chan?" Kouji asked.
"Yep," Tasuki go into the spring, still smirking.
"And what happened? Why everything Kouji! Really? Must've been awesome!"
"Aho. Like I'm going to tell you. And besides, don't think I forgot. Ya owe me some money."
Kouji sweatdropped, "Damn."
Chichiri chuckled. "Just don't let Ruri-chan know, no da."
Tasuki leaned back, arms behind his head, "I know. She'd kill me if she knew."