New chapter! And on time, too! I'm definitely happy about that, now that I'm working to put things ahead of schedule instead of doing last-minute stuff. Lol!

Lady Rhian Knightmage- Thanks so much! Ack, sorry about the error . . . I try to get them edited as much as I can, but I guess I missed one this time! I'll fix it as soon as I can . . . Thanks for telling me about it! XD I haven't read Harry Potter for so long . . . I need to read the fifth book! Or possibly re-read the whole series . . . lol!

Loki- Weelll . . The black-haired man isn't Toroki, but he knows who Toroki is. Which means it's getting close! I can't wait to reveal them! Yes, Naruto is too awsome! XD My major obession . . .

Kaeru Soyokaze- lol! XD Yes, Roy is too cool! And Naruto. Ack, I wish TenTen was in it more! I mean, her name is so cute and she looks adorable. XD

Care- Ack! Is that what I mean it sound like? No, he's not the Croteal . . . he's still ever-so-sexay. XD He just sort of controls it! Or he controls what actually controls the Croteal, which would mean he doesn't directly control it but indirectly controls it . . . lol! XD Too much confuse-ness. And I forgot to tell you last time! I'm sorry! The word is pronounced 'Roo-Ah'. XD And who knows what may happen with Ame and Suzuno. Actually, I didn't realize no one knew until you pointed it out . . . What have I been doing all this time? Lol!

quillian91- Thanks so much! There's these cards that come out for FYGK, and they have ones of Tatara and a bunch of other characters! He looks so good there! I love them!

Kyia Star- Huh? Did I make a spelling error somewhere with that? Sorry, I can't remember . . . Nope! I haven't forgotten Puriti and Takao! They're actually going to come up sometime very soon!

Suzuno Oosugi- lol, I'm still embarrassed about it . . . I just don't think I'm good at romance! And this chapter . . –blush- Gosh! I just . . . what am I going to do! Lol! XD I do feel bad for Ame-chan . . . I wonder how he'll work out!

Chapter Thirty-One

Tatara opened her lips slightly, tilting her chin up to even herself up with him. His mouth bared down firmly on hers, his tongue working to push the medicine so she would swallow. He could feel something rise inside when doing this kiss that to him made it feel like something more than what it was; there was something forceful, almost wanting. Perhaps something passionate.

Tatara backed away quickly when he heard a small groan, and Suzuno gradually opened her eyes. He turned his face away from her so she wouldn't see the heat that rose to his face. His hand lightly covered his mouth, his fingers caressing his lips. It felt as if something was tingling there, prickling his skin. He glaced down at the Prietess to see if there was a sign of the same thing. Nothing.

". . .Tatara?" Suzuno said in a meek voice, the grogginess making her speech a little difficult to understand. She raised a hand and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, lifting her head only slightly so she could see the warrior that was next to her in a wooden chair. She frowned a bit, noticing how turned away his body was from her and a panic rose in her chest. 'Did I do something wrong?'

"Tatara," she repeated again, and this time she earned his face for only a moment. She wanted to have something to say, but she wasn't sure what; she just wanted his acknowledgement, since it seemed like he didn't want to see her. But now that she had seen him, something peculiar struck her.

He looked different, not his usual calm self. In fact, he even seemed a little flustered about something. She started to recall his advice and sat up in her bed, the sound of the shifting covers making him glimpse at her once again. She pulled her hair over to the front side of her, holding out her hand and asking if he had anything to tie it in.

"Sorry," he replied, shaking his head. His eyes were a little downcast, away from hers as he responded. "I don't have anything like that."

"Could you . . ." Suzuno paused for a moment, quickly noticing the question she was going to ask was a stupid one. 'He probably couldn't make a rubberband from plants.' Instead of sulking again, however, she shyly smiled. She didn't want him to advise her on speaking her mind again. "It's alright . . . um . . ."

"Yes?" he asked.

"It's about that man . . . from before."

This has definitely caught Tatara's interest. Whatever he was feeling before had gone, and he was fully ready to listen to what she was going to say. What had made her so frightened before? That man was so mysterious; they didn't even know his name. Yet something told him that it wouldn't be the last time they saw him . . . "What is it?"

"When he spoke to me," she began. Suzuno paused as if she were trying to find the right away to form her speech. "It was terrifying. I could feel something dark in him. He just seems so powerful, in a controlling way . . ."

"What did he say?" Tatara asked. It wasn't that he didn't feel sympathy for how Suzuno felt about the black-haired man; he certainly did. But he already knew of just how dominant the man was, simply just by looking at him. It was his mere appearance that would let anyone figure out his strengths . . . He was without doubt a person not to be played around with.

Suzuno flippantly tossed her hair onto her back, running her fingers through it only once to make sure it looked at least decent. Because she so often wore her hair in braids it was very wavy, though when she was a child it was naturally straight like her Father's. "He told me that Toroki was his to keep, and if we tried to save him, both he and I . . ."

She decided not to finish the sentence, but Tatara could understand what she had meant. Now there was no uncertainty that they would see that man again, whether they party wanted to or not.

'So, he knows who the real Toroki is,' he thought, placing an elbow on the bed and propping his chin, going into deep thought. "Do you want to stay in Midoru an-"

"No."

Tatara was surprised. Suzuno never cut anyone off; she was never necessarily shy around him like she was with everyone else at times, but she wasn't impolite either. What she wanted to do must have been important. And, since she was the Priestess of Byakko, he felt her word was practically Law. As a warrior, he would listen. "What is it?"

"Rememeber why we came here?" she asked him, and he nodded. He didn't really remember, truthfully, since his mind was so occupied with their current events. She must have noticed this in a strange way even if he made no hint of it. "We stopped here for the night because we were going to Daini Toshi. I still want to see Amefuri; I feel . . ."

Suzuno looked away and over to a window in the far off side of the room for a moment, the sun rays stretching over the covers of her bed; she could feel the warmth of them on her legs. Her face went from determined to a bit of a sadness, a nostaligia. Tatara said nothing, waiting for her to cotninue to speak.

"I feel really bad. I was . . . I was really mean to him when we met, and now I feel like he's not a part of us anymore. But he's Amefuri, a Warrior of Byakko right? He's supposed to be here with us. We're all supposed to be together, helping each other . . ."

A small wetness filled her eyes and she bit the bottom of her lip, her heart sinking. She was scared and sad at the same time. Here she was, pouring out her real thoughts and beliefs. She really hated how apart everything had been, how things felt like they would never work out. There was the journey, the wars, the rivalry . . .

So many things got in the way of this near impossibly journey, and out of nowhere she was thrown into the mix to continue it. It was so devastating at times. How could she do this? How could anyone do this?

Suzuno was startled a bit when she felt Tatara's warm hand over hers, the other hand wiping away some of the tears that fell onto her cheeks. She turned to look at him and a blush scurried across her face as she gazed at sincere, trusting eyes. 'Daddy,' she thought, the soft expression at once coming to thought.

"It's alright," he told her, his fingers gently soothing over her skin. "Everything must be a little overwhelming for you. But . . . for someone your age to be doing something this difficult . . ." Suzuno's eyes broadened as she watched Tatara lift her hand slightly, kissing it. A shiver ran through her whole body. "It makes you an amazing person."

"Oh . . ." Suzuno had no idea how to respond to such a comment. How would someone reply? 'Thank you?' No, that sounded almost ungrateful in this day and age, especially for something so incredibly nice. She started to feel her heartbeat speed up, and it was becoming so frequent and so strong she was sure he could see it beating in and out of her chest. It was deafening to her, like a pounding drum . . .

The two turned their heads towards the door when it loudly opened and slammed into the wall, disturbing the both of them greatly. Danko was standing there with a wide smile, and by then Tatara had removed his hand from Suzuno's. The feeling that was there was over; done.

"Hi guys!" she said excitedly, skipping over and sitting on the edge of the bed. If she understood whatever had happened between Tatara and Suzuno, she certainly didn't show it. She gave the Priestess a wide grin. "How're you feeling?"

"I-I'm fine," she replied, feeling almost instantly intimidated. She didn't have a controlling factor like the black-haired man, but she certainly was strong willed. It would may anyone feel at least a little shy, unless it was someone who was just as open like Lanva. She wondered how the two of them clicked so easily. In a way she wished for a relationship like that. "We're going to go to Daini Toshi soon . . ."

"Yeah, I guess," Danko replied, a little pout in her face. "I wish I could go but you got your warrior-finding and all. Just sleep one more day here! You look a little red in the face anyway. Sick?"

'Tatara!' Suzuno thought, the idea so deafening in her mind that she thought she said it out loud. Thank goodness she hadn't; it would've made the blush on her cheeks all the more red.

"I agree," Tatara said finally, though there really wasn't much of a silence. Just a sort of . . . momentary awkwardness. "Where are Lanva and Subaru?"

Danko giggled in an almost naughty manner, covering her mouth. "Oh, they're probably having fun!"

-

Subaru was in the kitchen room, her eyes still memorized by how much there was to do. There were endless, beautiful carven wooden shelves piled with glass dishes and bowls, little cabinets piled with ingrediants only a true cook would know of, and a real heating stove to boot! She had long ago lit a match and let the steel above the flames heat up, with plenty of water boiling and soups.

Lanva walked into the kithcen and noticed Subaru's eager smile, the same expression coming to his face as well. He stood at the doorway; she was so busy she didn't even notice him there. She looked so rushed but so happy at the same time, running around and peeking in all the drawers like a child playing hide and seek. When it appeared she had found what she was looking for, a cupboard with a whole division of vegetables, he let himself be known.

"Hey baby!" he said cheerfully, leaning his back against a table where a whole row of bowls lay. She was kneeling at the time, potatoes in one hand while her other hand still searching for more. She looked up at him, and instead of greeting him properly she glared. "Where's Danko?"

Almost partly she was expecting an apology of some sort, though there was also the fact that he didn't have anything to apologize for. She stood up towards a counter opposite of her fiance to cut the vegetables, her back towards him so he wouldn't have to see her face when she was working. 'Just keep cooking, just keep cooking . . .'

"Danko's really a trip!" he started, laughing a bit and gesturing with his hands frequently. She didn't look, though she had a feeling since he did that often when he told long stories. "She's only sixteen, but she's a pretty powerful girl, espeically since she isn't a warrior! She has a training room in the basement of this house, saying she's schooled by Commander Hazumu when he's home. Who's ever heard of a girl that worked so hard? Man, if we could afford a place that swee-

"

"If . . ."

Lanva paused his words as he waited for Subaru to finish his sentence, and he noticed her shoulders were trembling. He couldn't tell if she was angry or upset, but he decided it was best to wait for what she was going to say if he wanted to find out. She hated being interrupted by him, espeically when it was something important.

"If I . . ." she paused again, putting down her kitchen knife. "If I were more like that . . . more like a fighter instead of a weak girl like you always think I am . . . would you . . .care more?"

"What?"

"You've never been so excited . . . not that much for a girl before . . . Is that the kind . . ." she couldn't really speak anymore; it was as if something was crawling in her throat, blocking the words she so badly wanted to say. She had said a lot, but to her not enough. Just a moment ago she was happy, but where had it gone?

"Hey . . ."

Subaru felt strong, powerful arms enclose her from behind, pulling her back and wrapping around her waist. Her hands were over her face, and she couldn't help but cry. What was he doing, being so comforting all of a sudden? She felt Lanva lightly kiss her neck and while part of her savored something so sweet, the other half of her wanted to push away.

"Listen to me," he said in a whisper in her ear, and she felt more light pecks on her skin, "I know it seems I like a lot of girls; I do. I like the attention. But no matter who it is I like . . ." Lanva turned her head, not reacting at all to the tear streaken face in front of him. Letting one of his hands drift to her face and pulling up her chin slowly he leaned down and gave her a small but sincere kiss. " . . . It's always going to be you who I love."

With Subaru's face turned, looking up at him and into his eyes, she knew for once that he was being as true as could be. A warm joy crossed through and she turned the rest of her body as well, burrying her face in him and pulling on his clothes tighly; for once, she didn't want to yell at him or say anything at all. She just wanted to stay there, just the two of them, crying in his chest while he held her.

"Thank you . . ."

-

Even for the unusually exhausting time in Midoru, with their unexpected extended stay, the morning told them it would be a nice day. They decided that since they had been travelling in the dark the last time in freezing cold, the heat would do well for a nice change. The sky was a clear blue and the trampled dirt roads of the towns were sizzling with warmth, bright and golden. Even through this, it was still a rich and lovely place.

"I'm going to miss ya!" Lanva said in a loud, energetic voice, putting his large arms around Danko and squeezing her into a tight hug. He lifted her off the ground a bit, as if he could find other further way to express how much he adored her. "I'm gonna train in your room sometime when the journey is over!"

Danko giggled as he put her down and let her go, winking a little. "You betcha!" she said, then she went over to Suzuno, who was once again under the same cloth as Tatara, Aoi-Yuki hiding underneath in her arms. The two stared for a moment, the shyer of the two a more curious expression while the louder a more devious expression. "Don't forget about me, Priestess!"

"O- Of course I won't!" Suzuno replied with a nervous smile. "Thank you so much Danko . . ."

"Well, if you want to really thank me," Danko placed a quick peck on the young girls' cheek, turning her pale skin in a heap of burning red, "Then come back someday and we can do stuff together!"

"Danko!" Subaru snapped, indicating that she should back away from the Priestess. She did so with a wide grin and a blush on her face as well, pleased she could confess to her newfound crush. She gave Lanva another short hug before waving goodbye to all of them simultaneously walking back in the house through the hole that was in the side. She started to pick up excess wood that was still broken, planning to rebuild it herself.

Danko's grandmother wamly wished them all luck as well, but she only in particular had caught sight of Tatara's lilac eyes. The moment they met she seemed to speak a million words, but, as if uncomfortable with her stare, he turned away. Unconciously he had pulled Suzuno closer under his cloak. Aoi-Yuki felt the heat of the two bodies and yawned at the comortable atmosphere.

"Well," he said, gaining the attention of everyone, "It's best that we go now."

"Yes," Subaru agreed heartily. Ever since her conversation with him, she had complete trust in the fellow warrior's judgement. He helped her become a little happier in many ways. She bowed in front of Danko's grandmother. "Thank you so much for letting me use your kitchen! I loved it!"

When the party was out of view, completely away from the town of Midoru and ready for the newest section of their journey, Danko had stepped out of the house near her grandmother, who had been watching them to the very end. She was holding long, splintered beams of wood in her hand effortlessly, and didn't even bother to put them down as she gazed in the same direction.

"I can't believe we met the Priestess," she said, more to herself than to her elderly relative. She reddened deeply in the face. "And so cute! She was so sweet and shy, not like most girls during these times."

"Yes," her Grandmother agreed, nodding. She walked to the steps at the entrance of her doorway and sat down on the top one, remembering to lift her skirt a bit when sitting and wiping it clean of dirt once she had assembled herself. "It makes me wonder what the world of the Priestess is like."

"They wear strange clothes, but . . . It's weird. I can't imagine anything much different from out world." Something about that didn't sound like the whole truth, and the both of them could hear it. But how else could they explain something they knew nothing of? 'Priestess of Byakko . . .'

X x x x x

-Feels the heat rising to her head- There, I did it! It wasn't even that much too, and I still feel embarrassed. XD Oh well! I'm getting over it! There's still plenty of more romance to write and everything anyway. Yeay! And hopefully there wont be any mistakes on this one . . . hopefully? Lol!

So . . . yeay for Lanva and Subaru actually loving each other now! Or . . . openly or something, at least. T.T It took them a while. But the harsh journey has made them closer than ever! Or something! And Suzuno still has no idea she's been kissed . . . Poor girl is a guy-magnet and she doesn't even realize it . . . lol!