Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi, but I'd like to. All I own is Jade Stevens, Tara Robinson, and Taran the hawk.
Chapter 17: Confessions
Jade and Tasuki followed Nuriko and Miaka into the festival. The Celeste Warrior's eyes lit up as she looked around. "Wow, this is amazing!" she breathed happily. The bandit smiled at her pleasure. 'Okay, tonight's the night...I'll tell her later, when it's time for the stargazing. That'll be perfect...' he thought to himself. Meanwhile, Nuriko and Miaka were drooling over a food cart. They ordered two large bowls of what looked like sugar cubes. Tasuki rolled his eyes, but asked "Hey Jade, do ya want some?" She nodded, and he got two bowls. The four ate, laughing and having a good time. They walked around, enjoying themselves, until Miaka slipped off on her own. Jade wanted to follow her, but the two seishi stopped her. Tasuki pointed to a sign. "Look, a singin' contest. Jade, you should enter." The Celeste Warrior gaped at him. "But why me?!?" Nuriko repiled "Because, I've heard you sing, and you're amazing! Go ahead!" Jade looked a little fearful, but then nodded and and went up to the stage. She spoke softly to the judge, who announced "And now for our final contestant, Jade Stevens!" Jade stepped up, and softly began to sing. She wasn't sure where the song was coming from, but she seemed to know it all. The words poured out beautifully, entrancing everyone in the audience. Tasuki watched her, amazed. Her voice perfectly matched her beauty, and he couldn't stand it anymore. While the song continued, he slipped off and didn't return until the song was almost over. As the song ended, everyone started cheering, and the judge awarded Jade the prize. Stunned, the girl stared at the trophy. Tasuki and Nuriko ran up and hugged her. Laughing, the three friends continued through the town. Nuriko saw a wrestling competition and said "You two can go ahead and find a good stargazing spot, I'm gonna watch this." Tasuki agreed and led Jade to a nearby clearing.
***************
Jade settled down on a big rock, commenting "This is a great spot, Tasuki." The bandit sat down beside her, realizing that this was the moment he had been waiting for. He pulled out a small item from his pocket and blushed, thinking of what to say. Jade, meanwhile, was picking out the connstellations. "Look, there's your constellation, Tasuki! Crater..." Tasuki glanced at her. Her eyes were shining happily, and she was grinning. He smiled softly and put an arm around her, blushing slightly. The Celeste Warrior turned and looked up at him, cocking her head. The bandit blushed even brighter, muttering an apology and pulling his arm away. Her face fell and a look of confusion crossed her face. Tasuki was startled by her reaction. "Jade? What's wrong?" he asked quietly. She shook her head. "Nothing..." He frowned. This wasn't the same happy-go-lucky Jade that he had fallen in love with. Was she angry with him? "Jade, I'm really sorry..." he tried to say before she started sobbing in his chest. Startled, he akwardly put his arms around her and tried to reassure her. The girl cried silently, then brought her face up to his. "T-Tasuki, I...I..." He lowered his face until their noses were touching. "Yes?" he whispered. Jade could feel her heart beating quicker. "Um, I just wanted to...I..." she stuttered. Tasuki grinned. "Jade-sama, spit it out!" The girl looked at him, stunned. "J-Jade-sama?" He blushed immediately. "S-sorry, it just came out...I guess ya know now. I like ya. In fact, I'm deeply in love with you. Stupid, huh?" he stammered. He looked down at the girl, surprised to find her laughing. "I can't believe this! You like me? I never thought..." She blushed slightly. Bringing her face up to his, she whispered "I like you too, Tasuki. A lot. And I never imagined that you liked me back. So, I just wanted to sa-mmph!!!" Tasuki had bent down and kissed her gently. Jade's eyes slid shut after she had gotten past the shock. They sat in bliss for what seemed like eternity, until Tasuki pulled away and put his hand on her cheek. She placed hers over it and smiled up at him, her eyes shining with happiness. The redhead pulled out a beautiful madallion on a silver chain. The Celeste Warrior gasped with pleasure as he presented it to her. It was made out of jade (the mineral), and in the shape of a wolf. The bandit placed his hand on it, and it started to glow softly. Then, he placed it around her neck. "This'll always glow, even when I'm not with ya. It's got part o' my chi in it, so use it if ya need me." he told her, staring deeply into her eyes. Jade grinned and kissed him happily, wrapping her arms around him. He deepened the kiss, his tounge slipping in to entwine with hers. The happy couple were in heaven as the fireworks that marked the end of the festival burst overhead.
***************
"Wow, it's amazing!" Jade cried happily as she looked up at the boat they were taking to Hokkan. Tamahome and Nuriko were there also. The other two had no idea what had happened between the Celeste Warrior and their bandit friend the night before. Tasuki, on the other hand, had disappeared. Tamahome looked back and walked over to a nearby tree. The embarassed redhead slithered out from behind it sheepishly. Tama asked "What are you hiding from?" The bandit quickly replied "Nothin', not a thing!"
"That so? Hmmmm...Aha! You don't know how to swim, do you Tasuki?"
"!!! W-what are you incinuating, senor? That I can't even swim? That I'm some kind of loser that's afraid of the water? You gotta be kiddin', right, I'm offended an' shocked!" the redhead babbled. Tamahome grabbed him and held him over the water. "Let's see!" Tasuki started struggling and yelping out in fear. Jade ran over and repremanded the laughing seishi. Nuriko and Hotohori watched, laughing. "Where is Miaka, Nuriko?" the emporer asked. The crossdresser shook his head. "I think she's packing, sire." The two nodded and continued to watch Tamahome and Jade's shouting match, Tasuki clinging to the nearest dock railing.
***************
On the ship, Tasuki was clinging to the mast, Jade trying to reassure him. Tama asked, looking discusted "He got carried onto the ship?" Miaka nodded. The firey redhead yelled "Oh, shut up! I'm a mountain critter, I can' help it! Heh, you sure talk big after being dumped by Miaka..." The money grubbing seishi immediately turned an bright red. "I was not dumped! I wasn't!!!" Tasuki stuck out his tongue tauntingly. "Nuahhhhh! You got dumped, you got dumped!!!" he teased. Tama got extremely red and dove at the bandit. Jade grabbed hold of him in midair and threw him away. Tasuki sweatdropped and pushed himself up. "Thanks, Jade." The Celeste Warrior grinned at her koi. The redhead chuckled and hugged her. "What would I do without ya?" She laughed and snuggled closer. "Dunno, but the world would probably be a more dangerous place." she said, looking deeply into his amber eyes with her green ones. The romantic moment was ruined by Miaka yelling "Cheese!" and snapping a picture. Somehow, Jade and Tasuki were able to pose in time. The Poloroid slid out and developed, showing the the firey haired couple. Jade grinned, but Tasuki seemed extremely confused. "Hey! What are we doin' in there?!? I'm the real one, not that guy! He's a fake!" The two girls sweatdropped as the redhead ranted about the picture.
Yay, I finally got them to confess their love! *Winks* But that's not all they have to go through, so tune back later!
Chapter 17: Confessions
Jade and Tasuki followed Nuriko and Miaka into the festival. The Celeste Warrior's eyes lit up as she looked around. "Wow, this is amazing!" she breathed happily. The bandit smiled at her pleasure. 'Okay, tonight's the night...I'll tell her later, when it's time for the stargazing. That'll be perfect...' he thought to himself. Meanwhile, Nuriko and Miaka were drooling over a food cart. They ordered two large bowls of what looked like sugar cubes. Tasuki rolled his eyes, but asked "Hey Jade, do ya want some?" She nodded, and he got two bowls. The four ate, laughing and having a good time. They walked around, enjoying themselves, until Miaka slipped off on her own. Jade wanted to follow her, but the two seishi stopped her. Tasuki pointed to a sign. "Look, a singin' contest. Jade, you should enter." The Celeste Warrior gaped at him. "But why me?!?" Nuriko repiled "Because, I've heard you sing, and you're amazing! Go ahead!" Jade looked a little fearful, but then nodded and and went up to the stage. She spoke softly to the judge, who announced "And now for our final contestant, Jade Stevens!" Jade stepped up, and softly began to sing. She wasn't sure where the song was coming from, but she seemed to know it all. The words poured out beautifully, entrancing everyone in the audience. Tasuki watched her, amazed. Her voice perfectly matched her beauty, and he couldn't stand it anymore. While the song continued, he slipped off and didn't return until the song was almost over. As the song ended, everyone started cheering, and the judge awarded Jade the prize. Stunned, the girl stared at the trophy. Tasuki and Nuriko ran up and hugged her. Laughing, the three friends continued through the town. Nuriko saw a wrestling competition and said "You two can go ahead and find a good stargazing spot, I'm gonna watch this." Tasuki agreed and led Jade to a nearby clearing.
***************
Jade settled down on a big rock, commenting "This is a great spot, Tasuki." The bandit sat down beside her, realizing that this was the moment he had been waiting for. He pulled out a small item from his pocket and blushed, thinking of what to say. Jade, meanwhile, was picking out the connstellations. "Look, there's your constellation, Tasuki! Crater..." Tasuki glanced at her. Her eyes were shining happily, and she was grinning. He smiled softly and put an arm around her, blushing slightly. The Celeste Warrior turned and looked up at him, cocking her head. The bandit blushed even brighter, muttering an apology and pulling his arm away. Her face fell and a look of confusion crossed her face. Tasuki was startled by her reaction. "Jade? What's wrong?" he asked quietly. She shook her head. "Nothing..." He frowned. This wasn't the same happy-go-lucky Jade that he had fallen in love with. Was she angry with him? "Jade, I'm really sorry..." he tried to say before she started sobbing in his chest. Startled, he akwardly put his arms around her and tried to reassure her. The girl cried silently, then brought her face up to his. "T-Tasuki, I...I..." He lowered his face until their noses were touching. "Yes?" he whispered. Jade could feel her heart beating quicker. "Um, I just wanted to...I..." she stuttered. Tasuki grinned. "Jade-sama, spit it out!" The girl looked at him, stunned. "J-Jade-sama?" He blushed immediately. "S-sorry, it just came out...I guess ya know now. I like ya. In fact, I'm deeply in love with you. Stupid, huh?" he stammered. He looked down at the girl, surprised to find her laughing. "I can't believe this! You like me? I never thought..." She blushed slightly. Bringing her face up to his, she whispered "I like you too, Tasuki. A lot. And I never imagined that you liked me back. So, I just wanted to sa-mmph!!!" Tasuki had bent down and kissed her gently. Jade's eyes slid shut after she had gotten past the shock. They sat in bliss for what seemed like eternity, until Tasuki pulled away and put his hand on her cheek. She placed hers over it and smiled up at him, her eyes shining with happiness. The redhead pulled out a beautiful madallion on a silver chain. The Celeste Warrior gasped with pleasure as he presented it to her. It was made out of jade (the mineral), and in the shape of a wolf. The bandit placed his hand on it, and it started to glow softly. Then, he placed it around her neck. "This'll always glow, even when I'm not with ya. It's got part o' my chi in it, so use it if ya need me." he told her, staring deeply into her eyes. Jade grinned and kissed him happily, wrapping her arms around him. He deepened the kiss, his tounge slipping in to entwine with hers. The happy couple were in heaven as the fireworks that marked the end of the festival burst overhead.
***************
"Wow, it's amazing!" Jade cried happily as she looked up at the boat they were taking to Hokkan. Tamahome and Nuriko were there also. The other two had no idea what had happened between the Celeste Warrior and their bandit friend the night before. Tasuki, on the other hand, had disappeared. Tamahome looked back and walked over to a nearby tree. The embarassed redhead slithered out from behind it sheepishly. Tama asked "What are you hiding from?" The bandit quickly replied "Nothin', not a thing!"
"That so? Hmmmm...Aha! You don't know how to swim, do you Tasuki?"
"!!! W-what are you incinuating, senor? That I can't even swim? That I'm some kind of loser that's afraid of the water? You gotta be kiddin', right, I'm offended an' shocked!" the redhead babbled. Tamahome grabbed him and held him over the water. "Let's see!" Tasuki started struggling and yelping out in fear. Jade ran over and repremanded the laughing seishi. Nuriko and Hotohori watched, laughing. "Where is Miaka, Nuriko?" the emporer asked. The crossdresser shook his head. "I think she's packing, sire." The two nodded and continued to watch Tamahome and Jade's shouting match, Tasuki clinging to the nearest dock railing.
***************
On the ship, Tasuki was clinging to the mast, Jade trying to reassure him. Tama asked, looking discusted "He got carried onto the ship?" Miaka nodded. The firey redhead yelled "Oh, shut up! I'm a mountain critter, I can' help it! Heh, you sure talk big after being dumped by Miaka..." The money grubbing seishi immediately turned an bright red. "I was not dumped! I wasn't!!!" Tasuki stuck out his tongue tauntingly. "Nuahhhhh! You got dumped, you got dumped!!!" he teased. Tama got extremely red and dove at the bandit. Jade grabbed hold of him in midair and threw him away. Tasuki sweatdropped and pushed himself up. "Thanks, Jade." The Celeste Warrior grinned at her koi. The redhead chuckled and hugged her. "What would I do without ya?" She laughed and snuggled closer. "Dunno, but the world would probably be a more dangerous place." she said, looking deeply into his amber eyes with her green ones. The romantic moment was ruined by Miaka yelling "Cheese!" and snapping a picture. Somehow, Jade and Tasuki were able to pose in time. The Poloroid slid out and developed, showing the the firey haired couple. Jade grinned, but Tasuki seemed extremely confused. "Hey! What are we doin' in there?!? I'm the real one, not that guy! He's a fake!" The two girls sweatdropped as the redhead ranted about the picture.
Yay, I finally got them to confess their love! *Winks* But that's not all they have to go through, so tune back later!