A/N: Ok, so I've basically given up hope of this story being a huge success. (Then again its still early so who knows?) Anyway, I like the idea still, so I'm going to continue no matter how few people actually read this story. (Although I would be personally in love with each and every one of you that had something nice to say about this piece, I need a few confidence boosters when it comes to this story). The lack of review is probably because the summary isn't that good and the main characters aren't typical. But that's ok. I liked the three Byakko Warriors that are mentioned/met in Fushigi Yuugi so I'm going to keep going. (I've already said that haven't I?) Anyway, I'm sorry I've been so slow to update. Lack of reviews means lack of inspiration, and some of my other stories are much more liked so I have a tendency to work on those more… heh heh heh… oopsie.

Disclaimer: I don't own Subaru, Tokaki or Tatara or the Priestess of Byakko, all of the other characters (strangely enough) are mine. :) I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Carter and the Wanderer

Tokaki woke up when the first beams of dawn hit his face. He breathed deeply, inhaling the cool morning, invigorating his sleep-heavy limbs. He took a half-eaten loaf of bread from the night before as his breakfast, noting with dissatisfied acceptance that its formerly soft, moist dough was now tasteless and stale. Pushing the last of it into his mouth, he adjusted his old, weathered backpack and starting off down the dusty yellow road. Supposedly it led to the sacred city, and was used often, hence the smooth, beaten texture of the clay dirt. He had only made it a few short miles before they day grew hot, and he became bored traveling by himself. 'Too bad there aren't any girls around.' He thought smugly. 'Then I could have myself a time…'

It was then that he heard a sound. It was faint… barely audible… but it was there. Something was moving at a steady, rhythmic pace behind him. Turning and shielding his eyes against the white-hot sun with his calloused hand, he searched to find the source of the movement. It didn't take him long to find it. A large brown horse was coming up the road, pulling a large wooden cart behind it. The animal was large and graceful, diligently trotting with limper, sturdy legs. It appeared to be a draft horse. It's black mane and tail were glossy in the sun. There was a man sitting in the front seat, the old, leather reins gripped tightly in his hands. Tokaki could already make out the large, broad-rimmed hat that sat, wilted in the heat, over the man's head to shield him from the sun. Tokaki waited patiently.

The driver was a tall, handsome man, with light coppery-green, almond-shaped eyes and long, black hair which was tinted green in the harsh sunlight. It was tied back loosely with a winding, green thread. Some of it hung straight, like a curtain, over his face, particularly the left side. The curtain obscured a part of the man's face from Tokaki's vision. But the wanderer didn't need to see all of the stranger's face to know that he was good looking. The carter's skin was a little tanned, though not as much as Tokaki's, and something about him seemed gentle, yet at the same time seemed his copper-green eyes might have been able to pierce right through him. As the old wooden cart came to a creaking stop, a dusty cloud descended over Tokaki, making him cough a little as it dried out his throat.

"Hey there." Tokaki said, his voice friendlier than usual.

"Hello." The man said, looking at him with a serious expression that Tokaki had never worn in his life.

The wanderer studied the carter's cart with seemingly slight interest, and noticed that a large black and purple cloth covered whatever the man was carting in its bed. This alone would not have been so strange, if multiple holes hadn't been cut into the fabric…as if something should be allowed to breathe… Tokaki decided to ignore it; it wouldn't help his cause any to point it out or ask about it; he was trying to get on this man's good side. "Mind if I hitch a ride with you?" Tokaki asked casually, running his hands along the powerful draft horse's neck. The animal's coat had been groomed to the extent that it shone, the fine black/brown hairs it slid softly like silk beneath his fingers. This man took very good care of his horses.

"Where are you going?" The carter's voice was smooth and pleasantly low. Tokaki imagined that it driven girls insane.

"I guess, now, I'm going wherever you're going." Tokaki replied with a sideways smile.

The man studied Tokaki for a while before nodding. "Very well then."

Tokaki's smile widened as he climbed up onto the cart beside the carter, resting his pack down beside him. Remembering his manners, which was a rare occurrence indeed, Tokaki turned to the man and held out his hand. "Name's Tokaki." He said, "Thanks again for the ride."

The man took his hand firmly in his own and nodded. "Tatara."

"Tatara, huh?" Tokaki listened to the sound of his name in his head before leaning back into the backrest. He seemed to be able to accept it as a decent name. "So tell me, Tatara, where are you from?"

Tatara adjusted the reins in his hands as they started off again, the cart tumbling slightly over a stray rock, its wood splintering and rubbing against itself. "I'm not from anywhere." He replied, with a quiet, yet strangely audible voice, his copper-green eyes covered by his hat as he continued to look downwards and away from Tokaki. "I'm a hermit."

Tokaki blinked. For the first time in a long time he was genuinely surprised. "A hermit? Isn't that just something for lonely old men to become?"

Tatara raised an eyebrow and looked at him sideways.

"Guess not… I mean after all, you're what? Twenty?" Tokaki asked, trying to be conversational.

"Nineteen." Tatara answered with that same voice, which was gentle and soft, yet unquestionable and audible. There was something about this man… Tokaki couldn't tell if he liked him, or hated him.

"Same as me… and you're hermit? Well that's… surprising." Tokaki said. "I mean I figured, a guy like you wouldn't have any problems finding a wife or anything."

Tatara cast him a look, as if asking him to be silent. Tokaki on the other hand was annoyed with his lack of conversation; this guy was too quiet.

"I mean, don't get me wrong when I say this or nothing, but you're a pretty good-looking guy. I mean women must flock around you… I can sympathize with you there, hermit," he said, ignoring the blatant way he was being ignored, "because frankly, they flock around me too. I can't get rid of them! Practically have to beat them off with a stick!" Still no response. "Not that I mind it… anyway, I bet you've had tons of girls, haven't you?" he asked, smilingly slyly. "I bet they just stumble on you in the woods, and you save them from some ferocious, man-eating chipmunk or something. And then later that night when she's recovering" Tokaki let out a small, knowing laugh. "That damsel in distress thing works every time… especially for guys like you. I mean, you're almost as good looking as me…" He studied the carter carefully out of the corner of his eye, his golden orb critical. "Almost… " He added as an afterthought.

Tatara turned his head slowly and stared at Tokaki for a long time before turning away from him to the horse, as if he intended to ignore everything that Tokaki had just implied about him. Then, just as Tokaki was about to give up on having any sort of civilized, or uncivilized conversation with the man, a small smile began to spread over Tatara's mouth. A soft chuckling could be heard after a while as he reflected on the blatant implications and cocky attitude of his new companion. Soon he was laughing outright. Tokaki followed suit not long after, and before they knew it, they were both laughing themselves silly. The carter couldn't remember the last time he had laughed… Thus began the journey to the Holy Kingdom.

A/N: Well, please let me know what you think. I'll try to add in some more humor in a bit, I'm just trying to set the foundation here… does that sound dorky or what:) Anyway, I'd really appreciate anything any of you have to say. And let me know if you don't think I'm writing any of the characters thus far very well, and add in what sorts of edits to their personalities I should be making. Thanks all of you who do review! You're the best! (tear)