Disclaimer: I do not own or claim ownership to Fushigi Yugi and its characters. They belong to Yu Watase.
Chapter 3
Fears
Tasuki watched the two, a knowing smirk on his face. One fang poked out over his lower lip as he calmly cleared his throat. Ten minutes was long enough for a hug, wasn't it? The bandit snickered to himself as the monk snapped his head up, meeting his brother seishi's eyes. His mask gave away nothing, but underneath that mask, Chichiri paled in fear. What if Tasuki knew?
The bandit watched them for a few more seconds before lifting an eyebrow. A little teasing couldn't hurt now then could it? His smirk grew wider as he motioned to Miaka, then pursed his lips in a kissing motion. He was rewarded by seeing two faint patches of pink appear on the monk's mask, indicating Chiri must be doing one hell of a tomato impression under that mask.
Chichiri quickly stepped back from Miaka, shame and embarrassment flooding through his entire being. And now Tasuki knew too! He glared at the bandit, who merely started pantomiming to the monk that he should start making-out with Miaka. Until a pan came down on top of his head, curtesy of Yui.
"Hentai." She said to the twitching bandit on the ground. She nudged him with one foot before full-out kicking him in the ribs. "You still alive down there?"
"Dammit woman! What the fuck is yer problem?! Why'd ya fuckin' kick me?" The seishi demanded, leaping to his feet.
"Because you were being a complete pervert, that's why!"
"Ch'! Not my fault the damn monk don't got the courage to do anythin'. I was jus' tryin' t'help him out is all."
"Then why don't YOU go and kiss her yourself!?"
Tasuki blushed, facing burning. "Cause I hate wimmen and besides, I ain' one t'move in on another guy's woman."
"That is such bullshit! What about the time you stole her and took her to your hide-out? Hmmm? Or all those times you fought Tamahome over her!? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were in love with...MMPH!!!" Yui glared at the bandit, who had clamped one hand over her mouth tightly, cutting her off.
"One more word and I swear I'll burn ya t'ashes."
"Ummmm, excuse me? What are you two argueing about?" Miaka asked, staring at the two and being her usual oblivious self. "Awwww! You two make a good couple, you know that? Too bad you're with Tetsuya, huh Yui."
"N-NANI?!" Tasuki stammered, jerking away from the former priestess.
"Honestly Miaka, I thought you knew my tastes better than that. I prefer mysterious guys who are totally hot. And rebels too, like the ones who don't care about the rules. Mmmm...and they gotta be buff. That's a must." Yui said enthusiastically.
"Definately. But I prefer a guy who has a good sense of humor too and fun to be around. And I don't know if I'm into the whole rebel-without-a-cause thing. And they have to be older, I don't like the thought of dating a guy younger than me. Just sounds too weird, you know? I think I'd like him to be on the bishounen side. Gotta love the pretty boys." Miaka said, hands clasped in front of her as she envisioned the perfect man.
The two seishi looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Women. "Hm. You know Miaka, I think your ideal guy may not be that far away." Yui murmured aloud. Miaka turned to look at her, tilting her head to the side. "You want him to have a sense of humor, is fun, cute in a pretty-boy kinda way, older, mysterious, and totally ripped right?" Yui watched as her friend mulled it over in her mind than nodded. "Well, it sounds to me like you just described Chichiri perfectly!"
"I DID!?!"
"YES!"
"DAAAA!!"
A loud crash drew their attention to the floor, where Tasuki was on his knees, doubled-over with laughter. He looked up at Yui, who winked at him, and started to laugh harder. Maybe the Priestess of Seirryu wasn't so bad after all. She was teasing Chichiri after all. Yui kicked the the bandit sharply for the second time that night. "Ignore the baka on the floor. Now let's see...you said you wanted a guy who had a sense of humor. Well, I can't think of anyone more willing to play pranks on someone than Chichiri and his cute little ''noda's'' are so adorable! And with that mask, I'd say he has an air of mystery about him. He's willing to try anything at least once it seems from what you told me, so I assume he would be the kind to go skydiving and bungee jumping, meaning he'd be lots of fun. Let's see...he's older than you and DEFINATELY a bishounen. I mean, the bangs and the profile of his face as well as the small ponytail totally marks him as a bishounen. And, in my personal opinion, I'd say he's pretty hot when he doesn't have his mask on. That scar is really sexy on him, and he's as toned as Fang-boy here." Yui finished, nudging the bandit who was still laughing on the floor. Chichiri stammered, trying to find his voice to protest but failing, his face a deep and bright red as the mage felt what must surely be all the blood in his body rushing to his face. He wasn't very good at accepting compliments, especially ones from women saying any part of him was sexy.
"Well...now that you put it that way, I think you're right Yui! Though in reality, I thought I was describing Taka." Miaka said, her tone light but underneath it was a hint of immense sadness.
"You did, Miaka. But you forgot how chivalrous and brave he was. And thick-headed when it came to you. I swear, that man would have gone through seven Hells and back for you if you asked him." Yui whispered, pulling her dear friend into a tight hug.
"She's right, y'know. Taka...he was always at his strongest whenever he was fightin' fer ya. Anyone could see 'ow much he loved ya." Tasuki spoke up quietly from to their side, having gotten to his feet at some point.
Chichiri nodded his agreement, slowly removing his mask. "He would have died a thousands deaths for you, noda. He was a very devoted man when it came to you, you know."
Tears started spilling over Miaka's eyes, streaming down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I must seem like a huge crybaby to you all." She muttered into Yui's shoulder as her best friend held her close.
"Ch'! Course we don'! Don' ya ever think that Miaka." Tasuki said softly, gripping her face with one hand and turning gently forced her to look at him. She gasped when she saw tears of his own slipping from his own eyes. "Its normal to miss someone."
She smiled greatfully at her seishi, releasing one arm from the death grip she had on Yui to pull the bandit leader into a one-armed hug. "When did you get so wise, Tasuki?"
"Ch'. Probably while I was wanderin' around the land with 'Chiri and he kept spoutin' all sorts of advice an' junk to me. I guess I picked up a little bit of it." Tasuki answered her, blushing.
She grinned and stepped back, swiping one hand across her eyes. A seriousness entered into their green depths, but the happiness still abounded in them as well. "Come on into the livingroom. We can sit down there and you two can tell me what brings you to my world. Would you like something to drink or eat?" She asked, playing the hostess of the house...err, apartment.
"No thank you, noda." The monk said, replacing his mask.
"How 'bout some of that sake!?"
"Sure!"
"Mi-chan, yer the best!!"
"Ow! Tasuki! My ribs! You're squeezing me too hard!"
Thwack!
"Ow! Dammit 'Chiri! I'm gonna break that fuckin' staff of yers one of these days!"
Whack! "Perhaps if you wouldn't break our miko's ribs, I wouldn't have to hit you with it, noda."
Yui rolled her eyes at the antics of the three. Grabbing the backs of each seishi's shirt, she forcibly removed them from the kitchen and into the livingroom, calling back, "Bring me a drink too Miaka! Mike's Hard Lemonade please. I'm gonna need it with these two around."
"Hai, Yui-chan!" Miaka called back, grabbing a handbowl, the sake, a six-pack of the Mike's Hard Lemonade, and a bag of chips. She grabbed the bag with her teeth as she pulled some dip from the fridge as a last-minute thought. She kicked the door open and carefully walked into the livingroom. Chichiri, yui, and Tasuki jumped to help her. "Domo arigatou."
She quickly fell back onto the middle of the couch, tucking her legs under and to the side of her. Yui plopped herself into one of the two chairs in the room while Tasuki took the other, already into his third drink. Chichiri remained standing near the window, half-tempted to steal the sake away from Tasuki to get the bandit to listen. But, the monk really didn't want to deal with one of Tasuki's hissy fits at the moment. He shifted so that his weight rested on one leg while the other was slightly extended out to maintain his balance, then shifted his weight again as he tried to come up with a way to start.
"Chichiri-san, why not sit down?" Yui asked, indicating the couch. She was going to have a lot of fun teasing the monk while he was here. It was his own fault her and Tasuki had found out about his feelings for Miaka. She felt she was justified in playing matchmaker here, as well as a partner prankster with the baka bandit. Who was still drinking, but appeared completely sober still.
"Iie." Chichiri stated, not rising to the bait or even noticing Yui's intentions. He was too restless at the moment and was fighting the urgent need to start pacing to work off some off that restless energy. Irritably, he ran a hand through his bangs.
"Chichiri...tell me why you two are here." Miaka said, softly and in a completely calm voice. "Am I in danger again? Is Konan in danger?"
Sighing, the mage tore off his mask and faced his miko squarely. "I do not know if you are in danger or not. Taiits-kun would not tell either of us much. Yes, Konan may be in serious trouble. Suzaku...the four gods have...we think they've been sealed away."
"Sealed away!?" Miaka asked, shock coursing through her veins.
"Seirryu too?" Yui demanded. No matter what had happened, she was still the Miko no Seirryu and she cared about her god greatly.
"Hai. Seirryu too had been sealed away. No one knows the cause of it, but Taiist-kun has an idea on how to unseal them." Chichiri whispered the last part very softly. How can I even tell her? How am I supposed to ask her to come back to our world? After all she's been through, to get back here to her world, to be with Taka...How can I ask her to return to a world that will contain nothing but harsh memories of her time with Tamahome?
"How?" Came the question the monk dreaded.
"Only the power of a priestess, or priestesses, can unseal the gods from their prison or whatever holds them."
Yui stared in shock at the monk, mouth hanging open slightly. She blinked and a mask of rage settled over her features. "Are you saying...you want her to return to your world?! After all that's happened to her in there, you honestly want her to go back!?"
The monk's shoulders slumped and he hung his head, nodding slightly. Tasuki too, looked ashamed of himself, staring at the floor avidly. The two seishi flinched as the Seirryu priestess started pacing. All energy suddenly leaving him, Chichiri leaned against a wall for support. He didn't dare look at Miaka.
"Okay." The word was delivered in a barely audible voice, but everyone heard it all the same. "I'll return."
"Miaka?! Are you sure?" Yui asked, kneeling in front of her.
"Mi-chan, ya don' gotta answer right away. Y'got a week t'think it over, 'member?" Tasuki spoke up from his seat, peering at his miko through his bangs.
"Hai. Tasuki-kun's right, noda. Please don't make a final decision until you've had all the time that you have to make it." Chichiri persuaded, wanting his miko to follow her heart and not her sense of duty. The mage also didn't want his miko to make such an important decision so abruptly.
"A week. A day. A minute. What does it all matter how long I think about it. You all know as well as I do that I love Konan too much to just sit idly by while it is ravaged and destroyed when I have a chance to save it and all its people. I have made up my mind and I won't back down from my decision!" Miaka yelled suddenly.
"Hai, Priestess." Chichiri murmured, Tasuki saying the same thing not a second after him.
"I...gomen. I shouldn't have snapped at you two like that. It was unfair. Please fogive me!" Miaka bit her lip, mentally beating herself. "I'm just a little stressed-out at the moment."
"Hai, Priestess." Came the soft reply from the two seishi.
"Please don't!" Miaka pleaded with them. They looked like a couple of whipped dogs and it was hurting her to have them use her formal title in such a submissive way. It wasn't right! "Stop acting like that! Stop acting as if though I'm better than you!"
Tasuki looked away, not knowing what to say to her. Chichiri replaced his mask, needing its protection desperately right now. Those two simple little actions caused Miaka to burst into tears. Never had her seishi had to hide from her like that and it cut her right to her soul. Startled, the three others looked at the crying miko.
"Aw, gods! Don' cry Mi-chan. Y'know I hate it when ya do!" Tasuki said frantically. He always felt so helpless to do anything when women cried.
"Why are you two hiding from me?!" Miaka asked, shoulders shaking with her sobs.
The bandit looked over at Chichiri with wide, desperate eyes. He wasn't good at this sorta thing and didn't want to blow it by saying something stupid that would just upset Miaka more. Nodding to Tasuki, the monk pushed back from the wall and went to kneel in front of Miaka. Grabbing one of ehr hands in his own, he tilted her head up so he could look her in the eye, though he left the mask on.
"We did not mean to hide from you. Its just...we do not want to cause you any more pain and if it was up to us, we would not have even THOUGHT to ask you to take on such a burden." The monk glanced back at Tasuki to see the bandit nod his agreement. "I must admit, I've been afraid you would even hate me, us to even ask you to go back to our world. So please, stop crying Miaka." HE lifted one hand to brush away the tears that were trailing slowly down her face.
"Awwwwww!" Yui and Tasuki said in unison, each wiping imaginary tears from their eyes.
"Daaa!"
"What was that for?!" Miaka demanded, blushing.
"You two looked so cute like that! Kodak moment!" Yui declared, grabbing a camera and snapping a picture before her friend could respond.
Blinking the spots from her eyes, Miaka growled and lunged at Yui, attempting to get teh camera from her. "You low-down, scheming, hussy! Give that to me!"
"Uh-uh! This is going on my wall under Miaka's Boyfriends section!" Yui declared, dancing out of Miaka's reach.
The two guys watched the two in fascination. Simply amazing how easily Yui was able to make their miko smile and laugh again. She wasn't the same girl they had known, the one who had been bent on ruining every ounce of Miaka's happiness. Tasuki caught himself grinning at the antics of the two women as Yui pulled out the photo from the camera and hid it from the light under her shirt.
"YUI!!! Don't you dare!! I hate your wall of photos!! He's my seishi!! YUI!!! GIVE ME THAT FUCKING PICTURE!!"
"JUST your seishi? I think you two could have given angels sugar-sickness with the way you two were staring at each other." Yui teased, twirling around and slipping out of Miaka's hold again. "I think somebody has a crush on a certain blue-haired monk!"
"Yui! I swear on Suzaku's holy name, I will tell those two about the crush you held on one of my seishi. And it wasn't Tamahome either!" Miaka countered.
"You wouldn't!" Yui said confidently. Then a trace of worry entered her eyes as Miaka quit chasing her.
"Hey Tasuki. You're quite the ladies man, did you know that?" Miaka said, casually standing by her bandit seishi.
"Nani?!"
"Mm-hmm. Seems bandit leaders are quite the mysterious and rebellious type. Aren't they Yui?" Miaka asked, fake innocence in her voice. She smirked at her friend.
"MIAKA!!! FINE!! HERE!! Just don't say another word!! Please!" Yui said, hurriedly shoving the picture to Miaka and thanking the gods Tasuki was so damn dense.
Chichiri, who had been sampling one of the 'lemonade' drinks, suddenly choked on it. Even as he started choking, he also started laughing. Now he had something to use against the Priestess of Seirryu! Tasuki casually reached over and smacked him on his back. "Damn 'Chiri! Y'alright? And what are y'talkin' about Mi-chan?"
"Oh, nothing." Miaka giggled, glancing at the picture in her hands. It was a rather cute one, though it did make Chichiri look like he was proposing to her. She flushed a bright crimson at that thought.
"Miaka, why are you blushing?" Yui asked her slyly, looking at the picture too. "Awww! How cute!"
"Shut up Yui!"
"Baka monk looks like hes proposin' t'ya." Tasuki commented from Miaka's other side, reaching over and plucking the picture from her fingers.
"Daaa!? I do!?" Chichiri asked, snagging the picture from the bandit as Miaka made a grab for it and looking at it.
"Yup! All ya need is the ring." Tasuki chuckled as the monk shot him a murderous look.
Taking the moment of distraction, Miaka grabbed the picture from the mage and stuffed it into her pocket, where Yui instantly took it out of, without alerting Miaka. Tasuki nodded his approval. Yui could make a pretty damn good pickpocket when she wanted to be. Yui glanced at the picture for a second then slipped it into her own pocket. This was definately going on her wall. She wondered how long it would take Miaka to notice it.
"Stupid wall." Miaka muttered, smoothing her hair back.
"Awww, you know you love the pics I got on it. We should show these two all the pictures we got of them on there." Yui said casually. "I mean, you guys got a week till you and Miaka have to go back right?"
"Hai. But there's something else Yui-san, noda." Again nervousness flooded through Chichiri's being. "A priestess can unlock the gods, but it would be much easier if two did the deed."
"What are you implying?" Yui asked, eyes narrowed.
"We were also told to ask you if you too would like to return. As the Priestess of Seirryu, you as well as Miaka have the power to unleash the gods from their captivity."
"I...I could go with you and Miaka?"
"Hai, noda."
"Well, then its settled. Sorry Miaka, but you're gonna be stuck with me. I'll have to tell Tetsuya and have him keep on eye on the boo... errr, out apartments." Yui quickly amended, seeing the warning look Miaka gave her. Tasuki shot a questioning glance at Chichiri, but the mage shrugged, indicating he didn't know what Yui had been about to say either.
"Oh, thank you Yui!!" Miaka squealed, wrapping her friend in a powerful hug. Yui squeaked and slowly began to turn a blueish color as she was being squeezed hard enough to be deprived of oxygen.
"Can't...breathe...Miaka..." Yui gasped out, shoving at the Priestess of Suzaku to dislodge her. As soon as she was released, the Priestess of Seirryu took a deep, grateful breath.
"Still got the strength of ten men in yer little body there, huh Mi-chan?" Tasuki remarked, rapping his miko on the head with his knuckles.
"Mou, Tasuki!" Miaka protested, then stiffened as another flash of light blinded her and Tasuki.
"Hee hee! I'm putting this one under Miaka's Boyfriends as well!" Yui proclaimed, pulling out the picture and stuffing it down the front of her shirt.
"YUI!!"
"Dammit!! I can' fuckin' see!!" Crash! "Fuckin' table!"
"Tasuki-kun, I think you should sit down, noda. Look out for the..." Crash, thud! "...chair, noda."
Snap! "Another good picture!!"
"M'eyes!! I can' fuckin' see a thin'!!" Tasuki grumbled, reaching out blindedly from where he sat with one hand. He felt cltoh and instantly grabbed hold, using it to pull himself up. Or started to.
"Tasuki-kun!! Let me go, noda! I'm falling!" Another loud crash as Chichiri is pulled off-balance by Tasuki and lands on the bandit, who consequently shoves him off.
Click, snap! "I'm gonna really like this photo!" Yui giggled, shoving the third photo down her shirt to join the other two.
"Yui, at least give me the first picture!" Miaka demanded. She hated having pictures taken of herself.
"Sure. But you have to get it." Yui said, turning to face her fully.
"I AM NOT REACHING DOWN YOUR SHIRT!! Tasuki!! Get the picture from her!" Miaka demanded, pointing at Yui.
"NANI!? Like hell I am! I ain' reachin' down some girl's shirt fer a picture!" Tasuki protested, backing away slightly and trying to focus. If only those annoying dots would leave his vision.
Seeing Tasuki had no intentions of helping her, she turned to her last hope. "Chichiri! Would you..."
"Iie!" Chichiri cut her off instantly.
"You two are no fun!!" Miaka grumped, crossing her arms and throwing a glare at her two temporarily blinded warriors.
"No, we jus' ain' perverts." Tasuki grumbled.
"So you submit that any pictures down my shirt are mine to keep?" Yui asked, slipping the one of Chichiri and Miaka down her shirt as well.
"Hai." Miaka sighed.
"Goodie! Lookie what pic is mine now Miaka!" Yui said, pulling out the pictures and waving it in front of Miaka's face.
"You whore!"
"Proud of it!"
"They're outta their minds." Tasuki said, watching the two bicker.
"Most women are, noda."
"Y'said it! OW!!" The bandit glared at Yui, who had thrown a pillow at him.
"Who's out of their minds?" She asked him sweetly.
"Watch the lamps guys." Miaka piped up, carefully stowing away all her breakable stuff.
Tasuki flashed a fangy grin to the Priestess of Seirryu. "Y'heard me."
"The Wrath of Seirryu upon you!" Yui called out, leaping at the bandit.
Tasuki jumped to meet her, only to find himself and the priestess frozen in the air. Turning an accusing glare at Chichiri, he wrenched his body around, trying to break free. The monk rolled his eyes, still chanting and holding the two in place. Curious, Miaka walked over and poked Yui, who squirmed away from her, or tried to. Miaka giggled and poked her a few more times before springing over her to hug Chichiri.
"Thanks Chichiri! You probably just saved my livingroom from being destroyed." She laughed.
Unable to concentrate with his miko hugging him so close, the monk wavered and then stuttered in his chants, causing the spell to release. Thus releasing the two frozen people and making them crash to the ground hard. Miaka giggled and ruffled the mage's bangs before pouncing on the two, smacking them with a pillow. "Miaka strikes!"
"Miaka! You're messing up my hair!"
"Yer gonna git it Mi-chan, as soon as I git up!"
"Oh, I'm so afraid of you two! Ahhh! Tasuki, stop moving!!" Miaka squealed as her seishi threw her off his back and got slowly to his feet, folloed closely by Yui. Each one looked at the other, then grinned and looked at Miaka. Scrambling to her feet, the Miko no Suzaku sprinted away from the two, diving behind Chichiri. "Chichiri! Help me!!"
Snapping out of his daze the miko had left him in, he quickly grabbed his shakujo. Swinging it, he smack Tasuki on the head, once again. However, he couldn't bring himself to hit a woman. Miaka would have to deal with her friend on her own. Unless...
"Miaka! In!" The monk said, shoving his miko into his kasa, following right after her.
"Dammit! I hate it when he does that!" Tasuki growled, picking up the hat and attempted to follow them.
"Where's they go, do you think?" Yui asked, pulling the kasa from him.
"Somewhere he's already seen. He can' go anyplace else, cause he could risk sendin' them over a cliff or somethin'." Tasuki said, biting a fingertip in thought. "I got it!! They wen' t'that 'strip club' thin'!! We said we wanted to check it out t'see what it was!" Tasuki said, slapping a fist into his other hand's palm.
"The...strip club...? Oh shit. Miaka ain't gonna like that." Yui said, shaking her head.
"Why not? Its a type of bar, ain' it?" Tasuki asked. What was so wrong with a bar?
"Yes, but it also has women stripping!"
"Oh! Oh shit!"
***************************************
A.N: I jus' realized I didn't say who I dedicated this fanfic to! This one is for Amy-chan, Heather-chan, an' Meg-chan who is also known as Tasuki t'me an' has survived countless IM convos with me. Not an easy feat let m'tell ya. Anywho, I've surprised m'self by writin' this long of a chapter in so short a time! Simply amazin', isn't it?
Tasuki: Not really.
Author: Shut up! *whacks him with his tessan*
Tasuki: *knocked out*
Author: Anywho, jus' wanted t'say thanks t'those who have reviewed so far an' thanks fer readin' m'fanfic. I hope t'git the fourth chapter out soon! So I'll see y'all later. Ciao! Ugh, now m'Italian is comin' out. Suzaku save me.
Chapter 3
Fears
Tasuki watched the two, a knowing smirk on his face. One fang poked out over his lower lip as he calmly cleared his throat. Ten minutes was long enough for a hug, wasn't it? The bandit snickered to himself as the monk snapped his head up, meeting his brother seishi's eyes. His mask gave away nothing, but underneath that mask, Chichiri paled in fear. What if Tasuki knew?
The bandit watched them for a few more seconds before lifting an eyebrow. A little teasing couldn't hurt now then could it? His smirk grew wider as he motioned to Miaka, then pursed his lips in a kissing motion. He was rewarded by seeing two faint patches of pink appear on the monk's mask, indicating Chiri must be doing one hell of a tomato impression under that mask.
Chichiri quickly stepped back from Miaka, shame and embarrassment flooding through his entire being. And now Tasuki knew too! He glared at the bandit, who merely started pantomiming to the monk that he should start making-out with Miaka. Until a pan came down on top of his head, curtesy of Yui.
"Hentai." She said to the twitching bandit on the ground. She nudged him with one foot before full-out kicking him in the ribs. "You still alive down there?"
"Dammit woman! What the fuck is yer problem?! Why'd ya fuckin' kick me?" The seishi demanded, leaping to his feet.
"Because you were being a complete pervert, that's why!"
"Ch'! Not my fault the damn monk don't got the courage to do anythin'. I was jus' tryin' t'help him out is all."
"Then why don't YOU go and kiss her yourself!?"
Tasuki blushed, facing burning. "Cause I hate wimmen and besides, I ain' one t'move in on another guy's woman."
"That is such bullshit! What about the time you stole her and took her to your hide-out? Hmmm? Or all those times you fought Tamahome over her!? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were in love with...MMPH!!!" Yui glared at the bandit, who had clamped one hand over her mouth tightly, cutting her off.
"One more word and I swear I'll burn ya t'ashes."
"Ummmm, excuse me? What are you two argueing about?" Miaka asked, staring at the two and being her usual oblivious self. "Awwww! You two make a good couple, you know that? Too bad you're with Tetsuya, huh Yui."
"N-NANI?!" Tasuki stammered, jerking away from the former priestess.
"Honestly Miaka, I thought you knew my tastes better than that. I prefer mysterious guys who are totally hot. And rebels too, like the ones who don't care about the rules. Mmmm...and they gotta be buff. That's a must." Yui said enthusiastically.
"Definately. But I prefer a guy who has a good sense of humor too and fun to be around. And I don't know if I'm into the whole rebel-without-a-cause thing. And they have to be older, I don't like the thought of dating a guy younger than me. Just sounds too weird, you know? I think I'd like him to be on the bishounen side. Gotta love the pretty boys." Miaka said, hands clasped in front of her as she envisioned the perfect man.
The two seishi looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Women. "Hm. You know Miaka, I think your ideal guy may not be that far away." Yui murmured aloud. Miaka turned to look at her, tilting her head to the side. "You want him to have a sense of humor, is fun, cute in a pretty-boy kinda way, older, mysterious, and totally ripped right?" Yui watched as her friend mulled it over in her mind than nodded. "Well, it sounds to me like you just described Chichiri perfectly!"
"I DID!?!"
"YES!"
"DAAAA!!"
A loud crash drew their attention to the floor, where Tasuki was on his knees, doubled-over with laughter. He looked up at Yui, who winked at him, and started to laugh harder. Maybe the Priestess of Seirryu wasn't so bad after all. She was teasing Chichiri after all. Yui kicked the the bandit sharply for the second time that night. "Ignore the baka on the floor. Now let's see...you said you wanted a guy who had a sense of humor. Well, I can't think of anyone more willing to play pranks on someone than Chichiri and his cute little ''noda's'' are so adorable! And with that mask, I'd say he has an air of mystery about him. He's willing to try anything at least once it seems from what you told me, so I assume he would be the kind to go skydiving and bungee jumping, meaning he'd be lots of fun. Let's see...he's older than you and DEFINATELY a bishounen. I mean, the bangs and the profile of his face as well as the small ponytail totally marks him as a bishounen. And, in my personal opinion, I'd say he's pretty hot when he doesn't have his mask on. That scar is really sexy on him, and he's as toned as Fang-boy here." Yui finished, nudging the bandit who was still laughing on the floor. Chichiri stammered, trying to find his voice to protest but failing, his face a deep and bright red as the mage felt what must surely be all the blood in his body rushing to his face. He wasn't very good at accepting compliments, especially ones from women saying any part of him was sexy.
"Well...now that you put it that way, I think you're right Yui! Though in reality, I thought I was describing Taka." Miaka said, her tone light but underneath it was a hint of immense sadness.
"You did, Miaka. But you forgot how chivalrous and brave he was. And thick-headed when it came to you. I swear, that man would have gone through seven Hells and back for you if you asked him." Yui whispered, pulling her dear friend into a tight hug.
"She's right, y'know. Taka...he was always at his strongest whenever he was fightin' fer ya. Anyone could see 'ow much he loved ya." Tasuki spoke up quietly from to their side, having gotten to his feet at some point.
Chichiri nodded his agreement, slowly removing his mask. "He would have died a thousands deaths for you, noda. He was a very devoted man when it came to you, you know."
Tears started spilling over Miaka's eyes, streaming down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I must seem like a huge crybaby to you all." She muttered into Yui's shoulder as her best friend held her close.
"Ch'! Course we don'! Don' ya ever think that Miaka." Tasuki said softly, gripping her face with one hand and turning gently forced her to look at him. She gasped when she saw tears of his own slipping from his own eyes. "Its normal to miss someone."
She smiled greatfully at her seishi, releasing one arm from the death grip she had on Yui to pull the bandit leader into a one-armed hug. "When did you get so wise, Tasuki?"
"Ch'. Probably while I was wanderin' around the land with 'Chiri and he kept spoutin' all sorts of advice an' junk to me. I guess I picked up a little bit of it." Tasuki answered her, blushing.
She grinned and stepped back, swiping one hand across her eyes. A seriousness entered into their green depths, but the happiness still abounded in them as well. "Come on into the livingroom. We can sit down there and you two can tell me what brings you to my world. Would you like something to drink or eat?" She asked, playing the hostess of the house...err, apartment.
"No thank you, noda." The monk said, replacing his mask.
"How 'bout some of that sake!?"
"Sure!"
"Mi-chan, yer the best!!"
"Ow! Tasuki! My ribs! You're squeezing me too hard!"
Thwack!
"Ow! Dammit 'Chiri! I'm gonna break that fuckin' staff of yers one of these days!"
Whack! "Perhaps if you wouldn't break our miko's ribs, I wouldn't have to hit you with it, noda."
Yui rolled her eyes at the antics of the three. Grabbing the backs of each seishi's shirt, she forcibly removed them from the kitchen and into the livingroom, calling back, "Bring me a drink too Miaka! Mike's Hard Lemonade please. I'm gonna need it with these two around."
"Hai, Yui-chan!" Miaka called back, grabbing a handbowl, the sake, a six-pack of the Mike's Hard Lemonade, and a bag of chips. She grabbed the bag with her teeth as she pulled some dip from the fridge as a last-minute thought. She kicked the door open and carefully walked into the livingroom. Chichiri, yui, and Tasuki jumped to help her. "Domo arigatou."
She quickly fell back onto the middle of the couch, tucking her legs under and to the side of her. Yui plopped herself into one of the two chairs in the room while Tasuki took the other, already into his third drink. Chichiri remained standing near the window, half-tempted to steal the sake away from Tasuki to get the bandit to listen. But, the monk really didn't want to deal with one of Tasuki's hissy fits at the moment. He shifted so that his weight rested on one leg while the other was slightly extended out to maintain his balance, then shifted his weight again as he tried to come up with a way to start.
"Chichiri-san, why not sit down?" Yui asked, indicating the couch. She was going to have a lot of fun teasing the monk while he was here. It was his own fault her and Tasuki had found out about his feelings for Miaka. She felt she was justified in playing matchmaker here, as well as a partner prankster with the baka bandit. Who was still drinking, but appeared completely sober still.
"Iie." Chichiri stated, not rising to the bait or even noticing Yui's intentions. He was too restless at the moment and was fighting the urgent need to start pacing to work off some off that restless energy. Irritably, he ran a hand through his bangs.
"Chichiri...tell me why you two are here." Miaka said, softly and in a completely calm voice. "Am I in danger again? Is Konan in danger?"
Sighing, the mage tore off his mask and faced his miko squarely. "I do not know if you are in danger or not. Taiits-kun would not tell either of us much. Yes, Konan may be in serious trouble. Suzaku...the four gods have...we think they've been sealed away."
"Sealed away!?" Miaka asked, shock coursing through her veins.
"Seirryu too?" Yui demanded. No matter what had happened, she was still the Miko no Seirryu and she cared about her god greatly.
"Hai. Seirryu too had been sealed away. No one knows the cause of it, but Taiist-kun has an idea on how to unseal them." Chichiri whispered the last part very softly. How can I even tell her? How am I supposed to ask her to come back to our world? After all she's been through, to get back here to her world, to be with Taka...How can I ask her to return to a world that will contain nothing but harsh memories of her time with Tamahome?
"How?" Came the question the monk dreaded.
"Only the power of a priestess, or priestesses, can unseal the gods from their prison or whatever holds them."
Yui stared in shock at the monk, mouth hanging open slightly. She blinked and a mask of rage settled over her features. "Are you saying...you want her to return to your world?! After all that's happened to her in there, you honestly want her to go back!?"
The monk's shoulders slumped and he hung his head, nodding slightly. Tasuki too, looked ashamed of himself, staring at the floor avidly. The two seishi flinched as the Seirryu priestess started pacing. All energy suddenly leaving him, Chichiri leaned against a wall for support. He didn't dare look at Miaka.
"Okay." The word was delivered in a barely audible voice, but everyone heard it all the same. "I'll return."
"Miaka?! Are you sure?" Yui asked, kneeling in front of her.
"Mi-chan, ya don' gotta answer right away. Y'got a week t'think it over, 'member?" Tasuki spoke up from his seat, peering at his miko through his bangs.
"Hai. Tasuki-kun's right, noda. Please don't make a final decision until you've had all the time that you have to make it." Chichiri persuaded, wanting his miko to follow her heart and not her sense of duty. The mage also didn't want his miko to make such an important decision so abruptly.
"A week. A day. A minute. What does it all matter how long I think about it. You all know as well as I do that I love Konan too much to just sit idly by while it is ravaged and destroyed when I have a chance to save it and all its people. I have made up my mind and I won't back down from my decision!" Miaka yelled suddenly.
"Hai, Priestess." Chichiri murmured, Tasuki saying the same thing not a second after him.
"I...gomen. I shouldn't have snapped at you two like that. It was unfair. Please fogive me!" Miaka bit her lip, mentally beating herself. "I'm just a little stressed-out at the moment."
"Hai, Priestess." Came the soft reply from the two seishi.
"Please don't!" Miaka pleaded with them. They looked like a couple of whipped dogs and it was hurting her to have them use her formal title in such a submissive way. It wasn't right! "Stop acting like that! Stop acting as if though I'm better than you!"
Tasuki looked away, not knowing what to say to her. Chichiri replaced his mask, needing its protection desperately right now. Those two simple little actions caused Miaka to burst into tears. Never had her seishi had to hide from her like that and it cut her right to her soul. Startled, the three others looked at the crying miko.
"Aw, gods! Don' cry Mi-chan. Y'know I hate it when ya do!" Tasuki said frantically. He always felt so helpless to do anything when women cried.
"Why are you two hiding from me?!" Miaka asked, shoulders shaking with her sobs.
The bandit looked over at Chichiri with wide, desperate eyes. He wasn't good at this sorta thing and didn't want to blow it by saying something stupid that would just upset Miaka more. Nodding to Tasuki, the monk pushed back from the wall and went to kneel in front of Miaka. Grabbing one of ehr hands in his own, he tilted her head up so he could look her in the eye, though he left the mask on.
"We did not mean to hide from you. Its just...we do not want to cause you any more pain and if it was up to us, we would not have even THOUGHT to ask you to take on such a burden." The monk glanced back at Tasuki to see the bandit nod his agreement. "I must admit, I've been afraid you would even hate me, us to even ask you to go back to our world. So please, stop crying Miaka." HE lifted one hand to brush away the tears that were trailing slowly down her face.
"Awwwwww!" Yui and Tasuki said in unison, each wiping imaginary tears from their eyes.
"Daaa!"
"What was that for?!" Miaka demanded, blushing.
"You two looked so cute like that! Kodak moment!" Yui declared, grabbing a camera and snapping a picture before her friend could respond.
Blinking the spots from her eyes, Miaka growled and lunged at Yui, attempting to get teh camera from her. "You low-down, scheming, hussy! Give that to me!"
"Uh-uh! This is going on my wall under Miaka's Boyfriends section!" Yui declared, dancing out of Miaka's reach.
The two guys watched the two in fascination. Simply amazing how easily Yui was able to make their miko smile and laugh again. She wasn't the same girl they had known, the one who had been bent on ruining every ounce of Miaka's happiness. Tasuki caught himself grinning at the antics of the two women as Yui pulled out the photo from the camera and hid it from the light under her shirt.
"YUI!!! Don't you dare!! I hate your wall of photos!! He's my seishi!! YUI!!! GIVE ME THAT FUCKING PICTURE!!"
"JUST your seishi? I think you two could have given angels sugar-sickness with the way you two were staring at each other." Yui teased, twirling around and slipping out of Miaka's hold again. "I think somebody has a crush on a certain blue-haired monk!"
"Yui! I swear on Suzaku's holy name, I will tell those two about the crush you held on one of my seishi. And it wasn't Tamahome either!" Miaka countered.
"You wouldn't!" Yui said confidently. Then a trace of worry entered her eyes as Miaka quit chasing her.
"Hey Tasuki. You're quite the ladies man, did you know that?" Miaka said, casually standing by her bandit seishi.
"Nani?!"
"Mm-hmm. Seems bandit leaders are quite the mysterious and rebellious type. Aren't they Yui?" Miaka asked, fake innocence in her voice. She smirked at her friend.
"MIAKA!!! FINE!! HERE!! Just don't say another word!! Please!" Yui said, hurriedly shoving the picture to Miaka and thanking the gods Tasuki was so damn dense.
Chichiri, who had been sampling one of the 'lemonade' drinks, suddenly choked on it. Even as he started choking, he also started laughing. Now he had something to use against the Priestess of Seirryu! Tasuki casually reached over and smacked him on his back. "Damn 'Chiri! Y'alright? And what are y'talkin' about Mi-chan?"
"Oh, nothing." Miaka giggled, glancing at the picture in her hands. It was a rather cute one, though it did make Chichiri look like he was proposing to her. She flushed a bright crimson at that thought.
"Miaka, why are you blushing?" Yui asked her slyly, looking at the picture too. "Awww! How cute!"
"Shut up Yui!"
"Baka monk looks like hes proposin' t'ya." Tasuki commented from Miaka's other side, reaching over and plucking the picture from her fingers.
"Daaa!? I do!?" Chichiri asked, snagging the picture from the bandit as Miaka made a grab for it and looking at it.
"Yup! All ya need is the ring." Tasuki chuckled as the monk shot him a murderous look.
Taking the moment of distraction, Miaka grabbed the picture from the mage and stuffed it into her pocket, where Yui instantly took it out of, without alerting Miaka. Tasuki nodded his approval. Yui could make a pretty damn good pickpocket when she wanted to be. Yui glanced at the picture for a second then slipped it into her own pocket. This was definately going on her wall. She wondered how long it would take Miaka to notice it.
"Stupid wall." Miaka muttered, smoothing her hair back.
"Awww, you know you love the pics I got on it. We should show these two all the pictures we got of them on there." Yui said casually. "I mean, you guys got a week till you and Miaka have to go back right?"
"Hai. But there's something else Yui-san, noda." Again nervousness flooded through Chichiri's being. "A priestess can unlock the gods, but it would be much easier if two did the deed."
"What are you implying?" Yui asked, eyes narrowed.
"We were also told to ask you if you too would like to return. As the Priestess of Seirryu, you as well as Miaka have the power to unleash the gods from their captivity."
"I...I could go with you and Miaka?"
"Hai, noda."
"Well, then its settled. Sorry Miaka, but you're gonna be stuck with me. I'll have to tell Tetsuya and have him keep on eye on the boo... errr, out apartments." Yui quickly amended, seeing the warning look Miaka gave her. Tasuki shot a questioning glance at Chichiri, but the mage shrugged, indicating he didn't know what Yui had been about to say either.
"Oh, thank you Yui!!" Miaka squealed, wrapping her friend in a powerful hug. Yui squeaked and slowly began to turn a blueish color as she was being squeezed hard enough to be deprived of oxygen.
"Can't...breathe...Miaka..." Yui gasped out, shoving at the Priestess of Suzaku to dislodge her. As soon as she was released, the Priestess of Seirryu took a deep, grateful breath.
"Still got the strength of ten men in yer little body there, huh Mi-chan?" Tasuki remarked, rapping his miko on the head with his knuckles.
"Mou, Tasuki!" Miaka protested, then stiffened as another flash of light blinded her and Tasuki.
"Hee hee! I'm putting this one under Miaka's Boyfriends as well!" Yui proclaimed, pulling out the picture and stuffing it down the front of her shirt.
"YUI!!"
"Dammit!! I can' fuckin' see!!" Crash! "Fuckin' table!"
"Tasuki-kun, I think you should sit down, noda. Look out for the..." Crash, thud! "...chair, noda."
Snap! "Another good picture!!"
"M'eyes!! I can' fuckin' see a thin'!!" Tasuki grumbled, reaching out blindedly from where he sat with one hand. He felt cltoh and instantly grabbed hold, using it to pull himself up. Or started to.
"Tasuki-kun!! Let me go, noda! I'm falling!" Another loud crash as Chichiri is pulled off-balance by Tasuki and lands on the bandit, who consequently shoves him off.
Click, snap! "I'm gonna really like this photo!" Yui giggled, shoving the third photo down her shirt to join the other two.
"Yui, at least give me the first picture!" Miaka demanded. She hated having pictures taken of herself.
"Sure. But you have to get it." Yui said, turning to face her fully.
"I AM NOT REACHING DOWN YOUR SHIRT!! Tasuki!! Get the picture from her!" Miaka demanded, pointing at Yui.
"NANI!? Like hell I am! I ain' reachin' down some girl's shirt fer a picture!" Tasuki protested, backing away slightly and trying to focus. If only those annoying dots would leave his vision.
Seeing Tasuki had no intentions of helping her, she turned to her last hope. "Chichiri! Would you..."
"Iie!" Chichiri cut her off instantly.
"You two are no fun!!" Miaka grumped, crossing her arms and throwing a glare at her two temporarily blinded warriors.
"No, we jus' ain' perverts." Tasuki grumbled.
"So you submit that any pictures down my shirt are mine to keep?" Yui asked, slipping the one of Chichiri and Miaka down her shirt as well.
"Hai." Miaka sighed.
"Goodie! Lookie what pic is mine now Miaka!" Yui said, pulling out the pictures and waving it in front of Miaka's face.
"You whore!"
"Proud of it!"
"They're outta their minds." Tasuki said, watching the two bicker.
"Most women are, noda."
"Y'said it! OW!!" The bandit glared at Yui, who had thrown a pillow at him.
"Who's out of their minds?" She asked him sweetly.
"Watch the lamps guys." Miaka piped up, carefully stowing away all her breakable stuff.
Tasuki flashed a fangy grin to the Priestess of Seirryu. "Y'heard me."
"The Wrath of Seirryu upon you!" Yui called out, leaping at the bandit.
Tasuki jumped to meet her, only to find himself and the priestess frozen in the air. Turning an accusing glare at Chichiri, he wrenched his body around, trying to break free. The monk rolled his eyes, still chanting and holding the two in place. Curious, Miaka walked over and poked Yui, who squirmed away from her, or tried to. Miaka giggled and poked her a few more times before springing over her to hug Chichiri.
"Thanks Chichiri! You probably just saved my livingroom from being destroyed." She laughed.
Unable to concentrate with his miko hugging him so close, the monk wavered and then stuttered in his chants, causing the spell to release. Thus releasing the two frozen people and making them crash to the ground hard. Miaka giggled and ruffled the mage's bangs before pouncing on the two, smacking them with a pillow. "Miaka strikes!"
"Miaka! You're messing up my hair!"
"Yer gonna git it Mi-chan, as soon as I git up!"
"Oh, I'm so afraid of you two! Ahhh! Tasuki, stop moving!!" Miaka squealed as her seishi threw her off his back and got slowly to his feet, folloed closely by Yui. Each one looked at the other, then grinned and looked at Miaka. Scrambling to her feet, the Miko no Suzaku sprinted away from the two, diving behind Chichiri. "Chichiri! Help me!!"
Snapping out of his daze the miko had left him in, he quickly grabbed his shakujo. Swinging it, he smack Tasuki on the head, once again. However, he couldn't bring himself to hit a woman. Miaka would have to deal with her friend on her own. Unless...
"Miaka! In!" The monk said, shoving his miko into his kasa, following right after her.
"Dammit! I hate it when he does that!" Tasuki growled, picking up the hat and attempted to follow them.
"Where's they go, do you think?" Yui asked, pulling the kasa from him.
"Somewhere he's already seen. He can' go anyplace else, cause he could risk sendin' them over a cliff or somethin'." Tasuki said, biting a fingertip in thought. "I got it!! They wen' t'that 'strip club' thin'!! We said we wanted to check it out t'see what it was!" Tasuki said, slapping a fist into his other hand's palm.
"The...strip club...? Oh shit. Miaka ain't gonna like that." Yui said, shaking her head.
"Why not? Its a type of bar, ain' it?" Tasuki asked. What was so wrong with a bar?
"Yes, but it also has women stripping!"
"Oh! Oh shit!"
***************************************
A.N: I jus' realized I didn't say who I dedicated this fanfic to! This one is for Amy-chan, Heather-chan, an' Meg-chan who is also known as Tasuki t'me an' has survived countless IM convos with me. Not an easy feat let m'tell ya. Anywho, I've surprised m'self by writin' this long of a chapter in so short a time! Simply amazin', isn't it?
Tasuki: Not really.
Author: Shut up! *whacks him with his tessan*
Tasuki: *knocked out*
Author: Anywho, jus' wanted t'say thanks t'those who have reviewed so far an' thanks fer readin' m'fanfic. I hope t'git the fourth chapter out soon! So I'll see y'all later. Ciao! Ugh, now m'Italian is comin' out. Suzaku save me.