He wasn't wearing his mask.

He's not wearing his mask! thought Ji-na. My dear lord Suzaku, he's not wearing his mask!

"Is something wrong no da?" Chichiri asked. He didn't want something to trouble Ji-na. He waited so long to see her and the last thing he wanted was to see her unhappy.

"You're not wearing your mask," Ji-na said.

A huge sigh escaped from Chichiri's lips. Nothing was wrong with her after all.

"Have you noticed anything else new no da?" he asked.

Ji-na stepped back from him and looked him over. He smiled as her mouth dropped in surprise when she saw that he was no longer wearing the clothes of a monk, but the clothes of a noble lord.

"Some time after you left to go home I decided to be a monk no longer no da. What's the point if I'm not really allowed to be with the girl I love?"

Tears welled up in Ji-na's eyes. She hugged Chichiri tight, feeling so much love for him bubble up inside her.

"I love you, Chichiri," she said.

"I love you, too no da," he responded.

A gagging sound came from somewhere over Chichiri's left shoulder. The two of them looked over and saw Hikou pretending to throw up.

"Sorry," he said not sounding sorry at all. "But you guys are being pretty mushy. Seriously, can't the two of you get a room or something?"

Something flickered in Chichiri's eyes. Ji-na had no clue what it was. It was not a look she was used to seeing, but she dismissed it. The last time she saw him was a year ago and that was for only a few days. He had gone through a lot with Hikou coming back from the dead and controlling Tasuki and everything, so she could understand weird flickers.

"Aw, come on, Hikou," the ghost of Nuriko, who floated up to him, said. "They're so cute together!"

The ghosts of the other dead seishi and Kouran, who had been floating around the throne room, murmured in agreement.

"No, it's O.K. no da," Chichiri said, the weird look in his eyes again. "We'll get a room."

They left to much whooping and hollering from Hikou.

~*~

Chichiri lead Ji-na by the hand to his chambers. Now that he was no longer a monk he didn't have any restrictions with the opposite sex. He didn't want to have sex with her, but he wanted her in a way he never had before.

As he brought Ji-na into his bedroom he noticed how much she had grown. She had gone from a small girl of thirteen to a young woman of sixteen. She was beautiful three years ago when he last saw her for a considerable length of time, but now she was gorgeous. He could barely believe the girl-to-woman transformation she went through. He wanted her so much.

He sat down on his bed and beckoned Ji-na to sit down next to him. She did, obediently.

"I love you no da," he said.

"I love you, too," she responded.

Chichiri started nuzzling Ji-na's neck. He felt her tense up, but he kept going. He moved up to her face and started kissing her. She returned his kisses. He stuck his tongue in her mouth and ran it over the back of her teeth. She grabbed his head and held it in her hands. Chichiri started pulling Ji-na's robe down, but she moved his hands away. Chichiri tried to pull her robe down again, but she pulled away from him.

"Don't do that," she said. "I'm not ready for it yet."

"I'm sorry no da," Chichiri responded.

Ji-na nodded with a faraway look in her eyes, and looked down. She seemed to temporarily fold into herself, like a flower closing up. Chichiri grabbed her hand and held it tight. She didn't look up.

"I'm really sorry no da," he said. Ji-na just nodded again.

Chichiri lifted her face up and her eyes locked onto his. She looked at him for a second and jumped forward, hugging him tightly. Chichiri hugged her back.

"Do you forgive me no da?" he asked. He felt Ji-na nod her response. Suddenly a thought came to mind.

"Hey, Ji-na?"

"Yeah?"

A pause.

"Never mind. This isn't the right time for it no da."

A/N: Hey! Sorry for the wait, but I'm having trouble writing. I know where I'm going, I just don't know how to get there. Thought now that I've passed one of my obstacles, I feel that new chapters are going to be coming out on a more regular basis. *crosses fingers*

Now for the thank yous!

MRT: It's coming pretty soon!

TOaA: Oh, I've had that skill for a while. I'm glad I updated, too.

chiri26: Yes they do! I'm glad you like this story so far! Also, thank you so much for you positive review on the original story!