Disclaimer: I don't own FY or any of its characters.
Chapter 6
Double Date
"This is a car. She's my baby." Miaka cooed, unlocking the black firebird. Tasuki circled around it, poking it here and there with his tessan. "Tasuki, so help me Suzaku, if you put ONE dent in it, I am going to kill you in the most brutal way."
He rolled his eyes. "All over a heap of colorful metal?"
"It took me two years of saving my money to be able to afford this car! Now get in!" Miaka huffed, opening the driver side door and slipping in. "One of you has to sit in the back."
Shrugging, the bandit opened the passenger side door and looked in. Indeed, there was another row of seats behind the front row. Now door led to them though, so the Wing seishi unceremoniously crawled over the front seats to sit in the back. "Wow! This thin's actually pretty comfortable!"
"Tasuki!! Don't climb over the seats! Gods." Miaka rested her forhead against the steering wheel as Chichiri gingerly got in the car, closing the door behind him like he had seen Miaka do.
"How is this thin' supposed t'git us anywhere?" Tasuki demanded, sprawling out over the leather seats comfortably.
"You'll see. First things first, this thing is gonna make a lot of noise, but don't worry about it. Its perfectly natural. Second, you have to buckle up. No way am I gonna get a ticket."
"Buckle up, noda?"
"Like this." Miaka demonstrated, buckling herself up.
Reaching behind him, Chichiri yanked his own seatbelt around and fastened it while Tasuki cussed about not being able to sit where he wanted. Sighing, Chichiri took off his prayer beads and swung them, hitting the bandit with the heavy string of beads. "Kuso!! Wha' the hell was that for!?"
"You need to learn to shut up, noda."
"Chiri."
"Hai, noda."
"Give me the prayer beads."
"But Miaka!! You already have my staff, kesa, and kasa, noda!"
"Now." Miaka demanded, holding out her hand for them.
"But...but..."
"Chichiri. I said now."
Sulkily, the monk handed over his precious beads, folding his arms and pouting. He mumbled to himself while staring out the window next to him. "Supposed to be a monk...how can I pray correctly without them...commanding miko....stupid bandit...they're mine too...first my staff...next she'll have my hairtie...noda..."
"Oh, suck it up. You sound like Tasuki."
"I resent that!" Tasuki growled.
"You resent it! How do you think I feel being compared to you, noda." Chichiri grumbled.
"What's that supposed t'mean?!"
"Will you two SHUT UP!!" Miaka yelled, pinching the bridge of her nose in an attempt to prevent the headache she felt coming on. "Gods above! Now listen, I'm gonna start the car up. No matter what, do NOT attack my car. It is perfectly natural for it to be really loud."
Recieving no reply from the two sulking seishi, she slid the key into the ignition and started the car, backing out of her garage. "HOLY SHIT!! THIS THIN'S MOVIN'!!" Tasuki yelped, jolting forwards and consequently strangling himself on his seatbelt.
"I warned you!"
"Y'only said it'd make noise, not that it'd move too!" Tasuki shot back, leaning back again and rubbing his throat.
Hearing nothing from Chichiri, Miaka glanced at him. He had gone as white as a sheet and his hands gripped the carseat so tightly the knuckles and fingers were white. His one eyes was wide with fear and surprise and he was breathing shallowly. "Chichiri? You gonna be alright?"
"Hey man, what's wrong with ya?" Tasuki asked, shaking the monk slightly, snapping him out of his shock.
"What is this thing doing!?!" He asked, his voice abnormally high-pitched, even for him.
"I just started the engine. Don't worry, its not gonna attack you or anything. Just relax." Miaka said comfortingly.
"Damn 'Chiri. I ne'er thought you'd be afraid of somethin'." Tasuki said, looking slightly pale himself.
"Osuwari, noda!" The monk snapped, his nerves stretched to their breaking point.
"Touchy touchy." Tasuki waved a finger back and forth through the air.
Wordlessly, Miaka handed Chichiri his prayer beads. The monk turned as much as he could with the seatbelt restricting him and proceeded to smack the bandit with them again. Then he gave them back to his miko and faced forward, grabbing the handle on the door in a death grip as the priestess turned into a heavily trafficked road.
"Fuckin' monk!!" Tasuki growled, rubbing his head.
Miaka groaned and turned on the radio. Loud rock music blasted from the speakers, causing both seishi to jerk against their seatbelts in shock and startlement, strangling themselves in the process. Deciding to get all the surprises out of the way, the miko pressed a button, causing the top of her convertable to fold back.
"MOTHERFUCKIN'SONOFABITCH!! MIAKA!!" Tasuki cried out, attracting the attention of two young women in the car next to them. "What else is this thin' gonna do next?!"
"Nothing else Tasuki, I promise. Chiri. Your hurting my arm." Miaka winced, trying to detach the chibified monk from her. Chichiri promptly clamped onto Tasuki, staring with wide eyes at the cars flying past them.
"Dammit! 'Chiri, yer strangling me!"
**************************************
"About time you got here." Yui smirked.
"Gomen. First time these two have ever ridden in a car." Miaka explained, holding up a chibi Chichiri in one hand and a chibi Tasuki in the other by the back's of their shirts. The two were glaring at one another, a hissing noise coming from the monk while the bandit growled deep in his throat. Just like a cat and a dog. Miaka thought ironically to herself.
"Oh! I see. Well come on in." Yui held the door open for the priestess and two now-normal-sized seishi.
"Is it them?" A masculine voice called out from further inside Yui's apartment.
"Hai!" Yui called back.
"Who's that, noda?" Chichiri asked, curious.
"That's my boyfriend, Tetsuya. I'll introduce you." Yui said, motioning for the trio to follow her into the appartment. "And you two are banned from my kitchen." She added as an afterthought, glaring pointedly at the two seishi. "Well, lemme show you where everything is. Down there is the kitchen and bedrooms. The livingroom is straight down this hallway and this is the bathroom."
The seishi glanced between one another. They knew what a livingroom, kitchen, and bedroom was, but what was a bathroom? They turned quizzical eyes to the blonde girl, who groaned. She looked around for Miaka, only to discover her gone. "I'll have Tetsuya explain what it is to you later." The priestess said.
"YUI!!" The deafening bellow sounded from down the hall, followed by an extremely pissed-off Miaka.
"Hai?" Yui asked, a little meekly.
"What. Exactly. Did you tell Tetsuya about me and..." She trailed off, motioning with her eyes to the two confused and utterly lost males. In particular, more towards the blue-haired one.
"Oh? OH! That!! I might've dropped a hint or two that you were...seeing one of them." Yui replied vaguely.
Fires burned in the Suzaku no Miko's eyes as she slowly advanced on her best friend. "Is this the guy Miaka?"
Blinking a couple times, Miaka slowly turned to see Tetsuya sizing Tasuki up, his expression grim and forbidding. "Darling, that isn't him. Its the other one." Yui giggled, pointing at Chichiri.
"Who the hell are you?" Tasuki demanded, but Tetsuya had already moved on to Chichiri, scrutinizing him closely.
"So your Chichiri, right?" He asked, peering at the monk over his shades.
"Uh...hai, noda." The monk fidgetted, wondering what in the seven abysses was going on.
Straightening, Tetsuya removed his shades to look directly at the monk. "You had better treat her right. If you break her heart, I'll break your legs. You get my drift?"
(AN: Yes I am aware that I stole that quote from Fast and Furious. But it sounded perfect for this scene, so I had to use it.)
"NANI!?" Chichiri demanded, facefaulting.
"Tetsuya!! Its not like that!" Miaka yelled, blushing in embarrassment.
"Oh really Miaka. That's only why you were all snuggled up cosily with him last night right?" Yui asked slyly, gliding over to Tetsuya to give him a peck on the cheek.
"Miaka!!" Tetsuya exclaimed, eyes wide in shock.
"It wasn't like that!!" Miaka yelled, her face crimson now.
"We saw ya Mi-chan. Nothin' ya kin do ta deny it." Tasuki commented sagely behind her, nodding.
"DA!" Chichiri said intelligently.
"He isn't exactly as I remember him. I was expecting him to be more...intimidating." Tetsuya remarked absently, replacing his sunglasses. "But, if you love him Miaka, then you have my blessing."
"Nani!?" Miaka and Chichiri demanded together.
"Yui! What have you been telling him!?" Miaka demanded, lunging at the other priestess.
"Why, only the truth of course." Yui giggled, hiding behind her boyfriend.
"Wait a second. Yui. Have you been playing matchmaker again?" Tetsuya asked, one eyebrow arched up over the rim of his shades.
"Weeeeellllllll...maybe a little." Yui conceded.
"Aw shit. Uh, gomen Miaka. Gomen Chichiri." Tetsuya said sheepishly, staring at the ceiling.
Tasuki snickered, poking the immobile monk. "I don' think he heard ya. By the way, name's Tasuki." The bandit said, bowing to Tetsuya.
"Tetsuya." Tetsuya returned the bow. "I'm glad to finally meet you two. I'd like to thank you for all the times you two have been there for Miaka."
"Awww...it was nothin'. Jus' doin' our duty." Tasuki said, embarrassed.
"And I'd like to apologize to you again, Chichiri-san." Tetsuya said, turning to the monk.
Chichiri snapped himself out of his daze and grinned merrily. "Don't worry about it, noda. Tasuki's done worse than that to me."
"Oh really? Name one time." Tasuki challenged.
"How about that time you got Kouji and yourself drunk and was under the impression that I was in love with Kouji, noda. I quote, "Ya better...better treat 'im righ' 'Chiri...or I'll take 'im from ya an' kick yer....zzzzzzz...s'my sake...zzzzzzz...," end quote." Chichiri smirked triumphantly, looking exactly like the cat that had eaten the canary.
Miaka, Yui, and Tetsuya all looked at the blushing bandits with grins identical to Chichiri's. "Awwww! That's so sweet of you Tasuki. Does Kouji know that you love him so much?" Miaka teased.
"Ah, lay off." The Wing seishi grumbled.
"After the way you teased me and Chiri, ain't no way I'm letting you off so easily. Got anymore stories Chichiri?" Miaka asked gleefully, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"Hai! Dozens of them, noda. How about the time you entered the palace wearing...MMPH!!" Chichiri glared up at Tasuki, who had his hand firmly clamped over the monk's mouth.
"Don' ya dare say another word! OW!!" The bandit leaped back, waving his hand in the air, trying to ease the sting Chichiri's bite had caused.
"I want to hear more of these stories myself. But not here in the hallway. Tetsuya, can you get some snacks and bring them to the livingroom for us?" Yui asked, leading the other three down the hallway.
"Sure."
"Thanks, Honey." Yui gave him a light kiss.
"Honey? Awww! You gave him a pet name! How kawaii!" Miaka chuckled.
"Yeah, laugh it up Miaka. You won't be laughing so much when these two bakas see my infamous Wall of Pictures." Yui threatened, her eyes sparkling with glee.
Miaka's eyes widened as that realization came crashing down onto her. For the past several years, Yui had made it a habit to cover the walls of her livingroom with photos of herself and her friends. One wall was completely dedicated to childhood pictures. Yui had taken so many pictures, that the priestess of Seirryu had been forced to move on to the ceiling now. "How about we go to the kitchen instead of the livingroom." She asked sweetly.
"No way, Miaka." Yui stated. "So, how would you two like to see some pictures of Miaka when she was little? Or maybe the ones I took of her when she got drunk once?"
"Mi-chan! Y'got drunk? Holy shit!" Tasuki laughed. "I gotta see that!"
"I'll show you the pictures!" The priestess of Seirryu and bandit eagerly skipped off to the livingroom.
"You know...sometimes...I think she wants to ruin my life." Miaka sighed, following after the two slowly.
Chichiri chuckled. "But that's what friends are for, noda."
Miaka sighed again, managing a rueful grin. "I suppose you're right. Though one must wonder if their our friend or enemy at times."
"Hai, hai."
The two entered the livingroom to find Yui and Tasuki crowded together at one photo-covered wall, giggling over various pictures. "'Chiri! Ya gotta see this! Mi-chan is totally plastered!" Tasuki grinned. The monk joined him, instantly grinning at the picture. Miaka was obviously drunk alright. The photo had been shot when she had apparently been dancing and singing on top of a table, a beer in one hand and a handbowl of sake in the other.
"I hate you all." Miaka muttered darkly from where she sat on the couch.
Yui's eyes lit up instantly, evil kitty ears and tail appearing briefly on her. "Poor Miaka. She's upset. Someone should go cheer her up, ne?" She said, pointedly staring at Chichiri.
Picking up on Yui's hint, Tasuki nodded enthusiastically. "Hai. Someone sensible an' wise an' handsome. Now, I know I'm the obvious choice of person fer the job, seein' 'ow I meet an' exceed all those thin's, but I'm gonna let 'Chiri take this one. Oi! Go cheer her up man." The Wing seishi said, shoving Chichiri towards the couch. The Well seishi glared at him, but decided he'd take this oppurtunity.
"Matchmaker Yui strikes again!" Yui chuckled darkly. "With her loyal assistant, Tasuki!"
"Assistant! Ha! If anyone's gotten those two together, its me!"
"You wish."
Firmly ignoring the two, Chichiri fell back onto the couch beside his miko. "I retract my earlier statement. They're our enemies, noda."
"About time you figured that out. For being a monk, you sure can be dense sometimes."
"For being a priestess, you can sure be clumsy sometimes, noda!" Chichiri shot back.
"If you really are a monk, aren't you supposed to be a vegetarian?!"
"Isn't a priestess supposed to remain chaste her entire life, noda!?"
"Aren't monks not allowed to drink!?"
"Aren't priestess supposed to be smart, noda?!"
WHAM!! "Aren't monks supposed to be kind and curtious?!"
Chichiri rubbed his head where Miaka's fist had landed. "Shouldn't a priestess be sweet and gentle, noda?!"
"What kind've monk practices magic!?"
Neither of the two had realized that they were being watched by the three other occupants in the house with avid interest.
"What kind of priestess eats half the food in the country at one meal, noda!?"
"Did you say I'm fat!?!"
"What if I did, noda!?"
"What a pitiful excuse for a monk!"
"You're a pitiful excuse for a priestess!"
The two glared at one another for several long, tense moments. Then broke out in laughter, clutching their sides in pain. Tasuki, Yui, and Tetsuya sweatdropped, staring at the two, believing the two had gone off the deep end. Miaka was bent over double as she gasped for breath and Chichiri was wiping tears from his eyes. "Oi! Y'two alright or what?" Tasuki asked.
"And that...is one sad bandit!" Miaka giggled.
"Hai, noda!!"
"Nani!?" Tasuki's eyes smoldered darkly.
"They're just trying to drag you down with them." Yui said absently from beside Tetsuya. The priestess had one arm around his waist, leaning contentedly against her lover.
"Hmm. I'm starting to see where you're coming from, Yui. They DO look cute together, but don't you think its too soon. Its only been six months afterall." Tetsuya asked, his brotherly instincts towards Miaka kicking in. He had always viewed Miaka as the little sister he never had.
"I know. But you know as well as I do that there were several...difficulties in their relationship for the last year. They were growing apart. Anyone could see it. I think this may be the best thing for her." Yui whispered back, gazing with a mixture of fondness and sadness as Miaka and Chichiri succeeded in dragging Tasuki into their argument.
"Perhaps you're right, my dear. You've always known what's been best for Miaka."
"Except when I was the Seirryu no Miko." Yui tone held bitterness, shame, and sadness.
"We've been through this! Nakago used you, remember." Tetsuya whispered furiously, hugging Yui to him tightly.
"Hai, I remember."
"Hey Yui! What say we take these two bakas out for some sight-seeing?" Miaka suggested.
Snapped out of their conversation the two lovers looked over at the three and grinned widely. The three were in a pile on the floor, Tasuki being on the bottom. Miaka held a pillow in one hand, occasionally hitting one of the seishi when either one tried to scramble their way out from underneath her, or in Tasuki's case, from underneath her and Chichiri. The bandit heaved for breath, nails digging into the floor, trying to find enough purchase in the slick surface to allow him to slip out from underneath the two. The pillow descended, smacking him squarely in the face. A string of highly creative swear words followed.
"What do you say Tetsuya?" Yui asked.
"I say, let's get them out of here before they destroy this place."
"I agree. We can go shopping!" Yui yelled delightedly.
"YEAH!!" Miaka whooped, springing of her living seat in excitement. "I say we take them to Victoria's Secret!"
"Oh my god!! We have to!! And let's take them to Kohl's!" Yui bubbled excitedly.
Tetsuya groaned and clapped one hand on the shoulder of each seishi. "I truly pity you two. Well...have fun! I'll go out and get you two some stuff you might need in the...other world."
"Thanks Tets." Yui gave him a lingering farewell kiss.
"We're gonna have fun today. You guys will love this era. Oh! Yui! We gotta take them to see a movie too!" Miaka said, excitedly thinking of all the things they could do. The four left the apartment, two bursting with excitement, two filled with trepidation.
"I know! Let's make it a double-date!" Yui snapped her fingers, marveling at her own brilliance. Damn she was good sometimes. "Tasuki, you're my date. Chichiri, you can be Miaka's."
"Wait! Nobody even agreed to this!" Miaka protested, blushing hotly.
"I agree." Tasuki smirked.
"See. Tasuki agreed. A double-date it is!" Yui proclaimed. "Where to first?"
"Wha's that movie thin' Mi-chan was talkin' about?" Tasuki asked, looking around as they emerged outside.
"How about we go there first so you guys can see what it is." Yui offered, glancing back to confirm it with Miaka.
Giggles instantly sprang from her at the sight of the two. They were both bright red and staring at the ground. "Okay." Miaka said in a high-pitched, squeaky voice.
"Why so embarrassed? Are we having thoughts we shouldn't be having?"
"YUI!!"
"So what movie should we go see?" Yui asked, strolling casually down the street, firmly taking Tasuki by his arm.
Soft muttering.
"What was that?"
"You pick, I don't care." Miaka said, her eyes trained on a young woman who was openly ogling Chichiri. Anger flooded through her and she purposely stepped closer to the monk, shooting the woman a death glare. Taking the hint, the lady took one last, lingering gaze at the monk, and went on her way. None of this was lost on the two in front.
"I think things are proceeding quite nicely between those two." Yui commented to Tasuki.
"Hai. But I'm still gonna win our bet."
"Not with the way things are going with those two."
"What two, noda?"
"You and Miaka." Yui called back.
Miaka groaned, a pained look apparent in her eyes. "I don't even want to know what they're saying about us."
"Hai, noda." Chichiri agreed, blushing as he noticed two teenagers openly looking him over. "Miaka?"
"Yes?"
"Why are so many people staring at me, noda?"
"What do you mean?"
A shout from the blonde miko in front of them cut the monk off. "HEY!! Don't you be looking at my man like that you whore!" Yui shouted at one youg lady, who gave the blonde woman a disgruntled look.
"Always a new experience with her, noda."
"I know. I've lived with her for twenty years, you know."
*****************************************************************************
AN: Uber-uber-sorry it took me so long to update this, but I just got my laptop back a few days ago. It was at BestBuy for a little over a week getting a tune-up, so I couldn't type. And now I learned the my room's ceiling is gonna be torn up to fix the roof so I get to sleep on the couch downstairs where my idiot brother stays up till 4 am playing Dark Ages of Camelot. And people say I don't have a life. Okay, so maybe I want to marry a cartoon, but he plays on that online game for 12 hours straight sometimes. In my opinion, that's worse than me. Wow. How the hell did I get on that topic? I scare myself sometimes. Anywho, I'd like to let everyone know though that I am back and my precious precious laptop has been fixed and I shall now be updating every week or two. I'm hoping to write at least one chapter every week, but who knows what'll come up. Well, I gotta go and get started on the next chapter. I hope everyone likes this fanfic so far and will leave me many many many reviews, even flames. See ya! ~L.G. Lena
Chapter 6
Double Date
"This is a car. She's my baby." Miaka cooed, unlocking the black firebird. Tasuki circled around it, poking it here and there with his tessan. "Tasuki, so help me Suzaku, if you put ONE dent in it, I am going to kill you in the most brutal way."
He rolled his eyes. "All over a heap of colorful metal?"
"It took me two years of saving my money to be able to afford this car! Now get in!" Miaka huffed, opening the driver side door and slipping in. "One of you has to sit in the back."
Shrugging, the bandit opened the passenger side door and looked in. Indeed, there was another row of seats behind the front row. Now door led to them though, so the Wing seishi unceremoniously crawled over the front seats to sit in the back. "Wow! This thin's actually pretty comfortable!"
"Tasuki!! Don't climb over the seats! Gods." Miaka rested her forhead against the steering wheel as Chichiri gingerly got in the car, closing the door behind him like he had seen Miaka do.
"How is this thin' supposed t'git us anywhere?" Tasuki demanded, sprawling out over the leather seats comfortably.
"You'll see. First things first, this thing is gonna make a lot of noise, but don't worry about it. Its perfectly natural. Second, you have to buckle up. No way am I gonna get a ticket."
"Buckle up, noda?"
"Like this." Miaka demonstrated, buckling herself up.
Reaching behind him, Chichiri yanked his own seatbelt around and fastened it while Tasuki cussed about not being able to sit where he wanted. Sighing, Chichiri took off his prayer beads and swung them, hitting the bandit with the heavy string of beads. "Kuso!! Wha' the hell was that for!?"
"You need to learn to shut up, noda."
"Chiri."
"Hai, noda."
"Give me the prayer beads."
"But Miaka!! You already have my staff, kesa, and kasa, noda!"
"Now." Miaka demanded, holding out her hand for them.
"But...but..."
"Chichiri. I said now."
Sulkily, the monk handed over his precious beads, folding his arms and pouting. He mumbled to himself while staring out the window next to him. "Supposed to be a monk...how can I pray correctly without them...commanding miko....stupid bandit...they're mine too...first my staff...next she'll have my hairtie...noda..."
"Oh, suck it up. You sound like Tasuki."
"I resent that!" Tasuki growled.
"You resent it! How do you think I feel being compared to you, noda." Chichiri grumbled.
"What's that supposed t'mean?!"
"Will you two SHUT UP!!" Miaka yelled, pinching the bridge of her nose in an attempt to prevent the headache she felt coming on. "Gods above! Now listen, I'm gonna start the car up. No matter what, do NOT attack my car. It is perfectly natural for it to be really loud."
Recieving no reply from the two sulking seishi, she slid the key into the ignition and started the car, backing out of her garage. "HOLY SHIT!! THIS THIN'S MOVIN'!!" Tasuki yelped, jolting forwards and consequently strangling himself on his seatbelt.
"I warned you!"
"Y'only said it'd make noise, not that it'd move too!" Tasuki shot back, leaning back again and rubbing his throat.
Hearing nothing from Chichiri, Miaka glanced at him. He had gone as white as a sheet and his hands gripped the carseat so tightly the knuckles and fingers were white. His one eyes was wide with fear and surprise and he was breathing shallowly. "Chichiri? You gonna be alright?"
"Hey man, what's wrong with ya?" Tasuki asked, shaking the monk slightly, snapping him out of his shock.
"What is this thing doing!?!" He asked, his voice abnormally high-pitched, even for him.
"I just started the engine. Don't worry, its not gonna attack you or anything. Just relax." Miaka said comfortingly.
"Damn 'Chiri. I ne'er thought you'd be afraid of somethin'." Tasuki said, looking slightly pale himself.
"Osuwari, noda!" The monk snapped, his nerves stretched to their breaking point.
"Touchy touchy." Tasuki waved a finger back and forth through the air.
Wordlessly, Miaka handed Chichiri his prayer beads. The monk turned as much as he could with the seatbelt restricting him and proceeded to smack the bandit with them again. Then he gave them back to his miko and faced forward, grabbing the handle on the door in a death grip as the priestess turned into a heavily trafficked road.
"Fuckin' monk!!" Tasuki growled, rubbing his head.
Miaka groaned and turned on the radio. Loud rock music blasted from the speakers, causing both seishi to jerk against their seatbelts in shock and startlement, strangling themselves in the process. Deciding to get all the surprises out of the way, the miko pressed a button, causing the top of her convertable to fold back.
"MOTHERFUCKIN'SONOFABITCH!! MIAKA!!" Tasuki cried out, attracting the attention of two young women in the car next to them. "What else is this thin' gonna do next?!"
"Nothing else Tasuki, I promise. Chiri. Your hurting my arm." Miaka winced, trying to detach the chibified monk from her. Chichiri promptly clamped onto Tasuki, staring with wide eyes at the cars flying past them.
"Dammit! 'Chiri, yer strangling me!"
**************************************
"About time you got here." Yui smirked.
"Gomen. First time these two have ever ridden in a car." Miaka explained, holding up a chibi Chichiri in one hand and a chibi Tasuki in the other by the back's of their shirts. The two were glaring at one another, a hissing noise coming from the monk while the bandit growled deep in his throat. Just like a cat and a dog. Miaka thought ironically to herself.
"Oh! I see. Well come on in." Yui held the door open for the priestess and two now-normal-sized seishi.
"Is it them?" A masculine voice called out from further inside Yui's apartment.
"Hai!" Yui called back.
"Who's that, noda?" Chichiri asked, curious.
"That's my boyfriend, Tetsuya. I'll introduce you." Yui said, motioning for the trio to follow her into the appartment. "And you two are banned from my kitchen." She added as an afterthought, glaring pointedly at the two seishi. "Well, lemme show you where everything is. Down there is the kitchen and bedrooms. The livingroom is straight down this hallway and this is the bathroom."
The seishi glanced between one another. They knew what a livingroom, kitchen, and bedroom was, but what was a bathroom? They turned quizzical eyes to the blonde girl, who groaned. She looked around for Miaka, only to discover her gone. "I'll have Tetsuya explain what it is to you later." The priestess said.
"YUI!!" The deafening bellow sounded from down the hall, followed by an extremely pissed-off Miaka.
"Hai?" Yui asked, a little meekly.
"What. Exactly. Did you tell Tetsuya about me and..." She trailed off, motioning with her eyes to the two confused and utterly lost males. In particular, more towards the blue-haired one.
"Oh? OH! That!! I might've dropped a hint or two that you were...seeing one of them." Yui replied vaguely.
Fires burned in the Suzaku no Miko's eyes as she slowly advanced on her best friend. "Is this the guy Miaka?"
Blinking a couple times, Miaka slowly turned to see Tetsuya sizing Tasuki up, his expression grim and forbidding. "Darling, that isn't him. Its the other one." Yui giggled, pointing at Chichiri.
"Who the hell are you?" Tasuki demanded, but Tetsuya had already moved on to Chichiri, scrutinizing him closely.
"So your Chichiri, right?" He asked, peering at the monk over his shades.
"Uh...hai, noda." The monk fidgetted, wondering what in the seven abysses was going on.
Straightening, Tetsuya removed his shades to look directly at the monk. "You had better treat her right. If you break her heart, I'll break your legs. You get my drift?"
(AN: Yes I am aware that I stole that quote from Fast and Furious. But it sounded perfect for this scene, so I had to use it.)
"NANI!?" Chichiri demanded, facefaulting.
"Tetsuya!! Its not like that!" Miaka yelled, blushing in embarrassment.
"Oh really Miaka. That's only why you were all snuggled up cosily with him last night right?" Yui asked slyly, gliding over to Tetsuya to give him a peck on the cheek.
"Miaka!!" Tetsuya exclaimed, eyes wide in shock.
"It wasn't like that!!" Miaka yelled, her face crimson now.
"We saw ya Mi-chan. Nothin' ya kin do ta deny it." Tasuki commented sagely behind her, nodding.
"DA!" Chichiri said intelligently.
"He isn't exactly as I remember him. I was expecting him to be more...intimidating." Tetsuya remarked absently, replacing his sunglasses. "But, if you love him Miaka, then you have my blessing."
"Nani!?" Miaka and Chichiri demanded together.
"Yui! What have you been telling him!?" Miaka demanded, lunging at the other priestess.
"Why, only the truth of course." Yui giggled, hiding behind her boyfriend.
"Wait a second. Yui. Have you been playing matchmaker again?" Tetsuya asked, one eyebrow arched up over the rim of his shades.
"Weeeeellllllll...maybe a little." Yui conceded.
"Aw shit. Uh, gomen Miaka. Gomen Chichiri." Tetsuya said sheepishly, staring at the ceiling.
Tasuki snickered, poking the immobile monk. "I don' think he heard ya. By the way, name's Tasuki." The bandit said, bowing to Tetsuya.
"Tetsuya." Tetsuya returned the bow. "I'm glad to finally meet you two. I'd like to thank you for all the times you two have been there for Miaka."
"Awww...it was nothin'. Jus' doin' our duty." Tasuki said, embarrassed.
"And I'd like to apologize to you again, Chichiri-san." Tetsuya said, turning to the monk.
Chichiri snapped himself out of his daze and grinned merrily. "Don't worry about it, noda. Tasuki's done worse than that to me."
"Oh really? Name one time." Tasuki challenged.
"How about that time you got Kouji and yourself drunk and was under the impression that I was in love with Kouji, noda. I quote, "Ya better...better treat 'im righ' 'Chiri...or I'll take 'im from ya an' kick yer....zzzzzzz...s'my sake...zzzzzzz...," end quote." Chichiri smirked triumphantly, looking exactly like the cat that had eaten the canary.
Miaka, Yui, and Tetsuya all looked at the blushing bandits with grins identical to Chichiri's. "Awwww! That's so sweet of you Tasuki. Does Kouji know that you love him so much?" Miaka teased.
"Ah, lay off." The Wing seishi grumbled.
"After the way you teased me and Chiri, ain't no way I'm letting you off so easily. Got anymore stories Chichiri?" Miaka asked gleefully, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"Hai! Dozens of them, noda. How about the time you entered the palace wearing...MMPH!!" Chichiri glared up at Tasuki, who had his hand firmly clamped over the monk's mouth.
"Don' ya dare say another word! OW!!" The bandit leaped back, waving his hand in the air, trying to ease the sting Chichiri's bite had caused.
"I want to hear more of these stories myself. But not here in the hallway. Tetsuya, can you get some snacks and bring them to the livingroom for us?" Yui asked, leading the other three down the hallway.
"Sure."
"Thanks, Honey." Yui gave him a light kiss.
"Honey? Awww! You gave him a pet name! How kawaii!" Miaka chuckled.
"Yeah, laugh it up Miaka. You won't be laughing so much when these two bakas see my infamous Wall of Pictures." Yui threatened, her eyes sparkling with glee.
Miaka's eyes widened as that realization came crashing down onto her. For the past several years, Yui had made it a habit to cover the walls of her livingroom with photos of herself and her friends. One wall was completely dedicated to childhood pictures. Yui had taken so many pictures, that the priestess of Seirryu had been forced to move on to the ceiling now. "How about we go to the kitchen instead of the livingroom." She asked sweetly.
"No way, Miaka." Yui stated. "So, how would you two like to see some pictures of Miaka when she was little? Or maybe the ones I took of her when she got drunk once?"
"Mi-chan! Y'got drunk? Holy shit!" Tasuki laughed. "I gotta see that!"
"I'll show you the pictures!" The priestess of Seirryu and bandit eagerly skipped off to the livingroom.
"You know...sometimes...I think she wants to ruin my life." Miaka sighed, following after the two slowly.
Chichiri chuckled. "But that's what friends are for, noda."
Miaka sighed again, managing a rueful grin. "I suppose you're right. Though one must wonder if their our friend or enemy at times."
"Hai, hai."
The two entered the livingroom to find Yui and Tasuki crowded together at one photo-covered wall, giggling over various pictures. "'Chiri! Ya gotta see this! Mi-chan is totally plastered!" Tasuki grinned. The monk joined him, instantly grinning at the picture. Miaka was obviously drunk alright. The photo had been shot when she had apparently been dancing and singing on top of a table, a beer in one hand and a handbowl of sake in the other.
"I hate you all." Miaka muttered darkly from where she sat on the couch.
Yui's eyes lit up instantly, evil kitty ears and tail appearing briefly on her. "Poor Miaka. She's upset. Someone should go cheer her up, ne?" She said, pointedly staring at Chichiri.
Picking up on Yui's hint, Tasuki nodded enthusiastically. "Hai. Someone sensible an' wise an' handsome. Now, I know I'm the obvious choice of person fer the job, seein' 'ow I meet an' exceed all those thin's, but I'm gonna let 'Chiri take this one. Oi! Go cheer her up man." The Wing seishi said, shoving Chichiri towards the couch. The Well seishi glared at him, but decided he'd take this oppurtunity.
"Matchmaker Yui strikes again!" Yui chuckled darkly. "With her loyal assistant, Tasuki!"
"Assistant! Ha! If anyone's gotten those two together, its me!"
"You wish."
Firmly ignoring the two, Chichiri fell back onto the couch beside his miko. "I retract my earlier statement. They're our enemies, noda."
"About time you figured that out. For being a monk, you sure can be dense sometimes."
"For being a priestess, you can sure be clumsy sometimes, noda!" Chichiri shot back.
"If you really are a monk, aren't you supposed to be a vegetarian?!"
"Isn't a priestess supposed to remain chaste her entire life, noda!?"
"Aren't monks not allowed to drink!?"
"Aren't priestess supposed to be smart, noda?!"
WHAM!! "Aren't monks supposed to be kind and curtious?!"
Chichiri rubbed his head where Miaka's fist had landed. "Shouldn't a priestess be sweet and gentle, noda?!"
"What kind've monk practices magic!?"
Neither of the two had realized that they were being watched by the three other occupants in the house with avid interest.
"What kind of priestess eats half the food in the country at one meal, noda!?"
"Did you say I'm fat!?!"
"What if I did, noda!?"
"What a pitiful excuse for a monk!"
"You're a pitiful excuse for a priestess!"
The two glared at one another for several long, tense moments. Then broke out in laughter, clutching their sides in pain. Tasuki, Yui, and Tetsuya sweatdropped, staring at the two, believing the two had gone off the deep end. Miaka was bent over double as she gasped for breath and Chichiri was wiping tears from his eyes. "Oi! Y'two alright or what?" Tasuki asked.
"And that...is one sad bandit!" Miaka giggled.
"Hai, noda!!"
"Nani!?" Tasuki's eyes smoldered darkly.
"They're just trying to drag you down with them." Yui said absently from beside Tetsuya. The priestess had one arm around his waist, leaning contentedly against her lover.
"Hmm. I'm starting to see where you're coming from, Yui. They DO look cute together, but don't you think its too soon. Its only been six months afterall." Tetsuya asked, his brotherly instincts towards Miaka kicking in. He had always viewed Miaka as the little sister he never had.
"I know. But you know as well as I do that there were several...difficulties in their relationship for the last year. They were growing apart. Anyone could see it. I think this may be the best thing for her." Yui whispered back, gazing with a mixture of fondness and sadness as Miaka and Chichiri succeeded in dragging Tasuki into their argument.
"Perhaps you're right, my dear. You've always known what's been best for Miaka."
"Except when I was the Seirryu no Miko." Yui tone held bitterness, shame, and sadness.
"We've been through this! Nakago used you, remember." Tetsuya whispered furiously, hugging Yui to him tightly.
"Hai, I remember."
"Hey Yui! What say we take these two bakas out for some sight-seeing?" Miaka suggested.
Snapped out of their conversation the two lovers looked over at the three and grinned widely. The three were in a pile on the floor, Tasuki being on the bottom. Miaka held a pillow in one hand, occasionally hitting one of the seishi when either one tried to scramble their way out from underneath her, or in Tasuki's case, from underneath her and Chichiri. The bandit heaved for breath, nails digging into the floor, trying to find enough purchase in the slick surface to allow him to slip out from underneath the two. The pillow descended, smacking him squarely in the face. A string of highly creative swear words followed.
"What do you say Tetsuya?" Yui asked.
"I say, let's get them out of here before they destroy this place."
"I agree. We can go shopping!" Yui yelled delightedly.
"YEAH!!" Miaka whooped, springing of her living seat in excitement. "I say we take them to Victoria's Secret!"
"Oh my god!! We have to!! And let's take them to Kohl's!" Yui bubbled excitedly.
Tetsuya groaned and clapped one hand on the shoulder of each seishi. "I truly pity you two. Well...have fun! I'll go out and get you two some stuff you might need in the...other world."
"Thanks Tets." Yui gave him a lingering farewell kiss.
"We're gonna have fun today. You guys will love this era. Oh! Yui! We gotta take them to see a movie too!" Miaka said, excitedly thinking of all the things they could do. The four left the apartment, two bursting with excitement, two filled with trepidation.
"I know! Let's make it a double-date!" Yui snapped her fingers, marveling at her own brilliance. Damn she was good sometimes. "Tasuki, you're my date. Chichiri, you can be Miaka's."
"Wait! Nobody even agreed to this!" Miaka protested, blushing hotly.
"I agree." Tasuki smirked.
"See. Tasuki agreed. A double-date it is!" Yui proclaimed. "Where to first?"
"Wha's that movie thin' Mi-chan was talkin' about?" Tasuki asked, looking around as they emerged outside.
"How about we go there first so you guys can see what it is." Yui offered, glancing back to confirm it with Miaka.
Giggles instantly sprang from her at the sight of the two. They were both bright red and staring at the ground. "Okay." Miaka said in a high-pitched, squeaky voice.
"Why so embarrassed? Are we having thoughts we shouldn't be having?"
"YUI!!"
"So what movie should we go see?" Yui asked, strolling casually down the street, firmly taking Tasuki by his arm.
Soft muttering.
"What was that?"
"You pick, I don't care." Miaka said, her eyes trained on a young woman who was openly ogling Chichiri. Anger flooded through her and she purposely stepped closer to the monk, shooting the woman a death glare. Taking the hint, the lady took one last, lingering gaze at the monk, and went on her way. None of this was lost on the two in front.
"I think things are proceeding quite nicely between those two." Yui commented to Tasuki.
"Hai. But I'm still gonna win our bet."
"Not with the way things are going with those two."
"What two, noda?"
"You and Miaka." Yui called back.
Miaka groaned, a pained look apparent in her eyes. "I don't even want to know what they're saying about us."
"Hai, noda." Chichiri agreed, blushing as he noticed two teenagers openly looking him over. "Miaka?"
"Yes?"
"Why are so many people staring at me, noda?"
"What do you mean?"
A shout from the blonde miko in front of them cut the monk off. "HEY!! Don't you be looking at my man like that you whore!" Yui shouted at one youg lady, who gave the blonde woman a disgruntled look.
"Always a new experience with her, noda."
"I know. I've lived with her for twenty years, you know."
*****************************************************************************
AN: Uber-uber-sorry it took me so long to update this, but I just got my laptop back a few days ago. It was at BestBuy for a little over a week getting a tune-up, so I couldn't type. And now I learned the my room's ceiling is gonna be torn up to fix the roof so I get to sleep on the couch downstairs where my idiot brother stays up till 4 am playing Dark Ages of Camelot. And people say I don't have a life. Okay, so maybe I want to marry a cartoon, but he plays on that online game for 12 hours straight sometimes. In my opinion, that's worse than me. Wow. How the hell did I get on that topic? I scare myself sometimes. Anywho, I'd like to let everyone know though that I am back and my precious precious laptop has been fixed and I shall now be updating every week or two. I'm hoping to write at least one chapter every week, but who knows what'll come up. Well, I gotta go and get started on the next chapter. I hope everyone likes this fanfic so far and will leave me many many many reviews, even flames. See ya! ~L.G. Lena