Tasuki floated. He opened his eyes. He was surrounded by blackness. Somewhat puzzled, the bandit looked around him for someone else. No one. Then his eyes closed. /Oh yeah.../

"Am I dead?" he said outloud, his voice sounded close as though he were in a box, but the space was infinite. Funny, he was dry... It came back to him, the fight, Chiriko, the horse. and...

"I am dead." He said glumly as he remembered the last thing he had seen. "And no one cared." He said again, surprised at the words that came out of his mouth. /But it's true, isn't it. / He thought.

/No one even knows that you are dead/

"It doesn't matter anyway." He told himself. /All I ever do is cause trouble. Now that I am out of the way.../

"Tasuki!"

Startled, the bandit looked around.

"Tasuki!"

This time closer, more persistent. Suddenly he saw Koji, looking into his orb at Verona.

"Koji!" He cried to his best friend then sat back puzzled when his friend kept looking at the mirror.

"Tasuki..." He spoke suddenly looking right at him. "You can't die."

Tasuki laughed and lay back, giving his friend a grin. "Yeah... but a little late for that. I don't think I could even come back If I tried!"

His friend shook his head angrily,

"Tasuki, you can't die."

The bandit sighed. "What difference does it make if I live or die?" He said, looking at his feet. "No one cares anyway." This was softer, as he thought about it.

"Are you INSANE?" Yelled Koji, snapping Tasuki from his thoughts. The fanged boy thought about it then answered.

"Yes. Wadaya mean?"

"Listen!" Koji pleaded.

Tasuki did. Then he heard it. Chiriko was crying. Suddenly Tasuki could see the plaza. He could read their thoughts.

"Their..." he said softly... "Their... worried..." Nuriko perched at the tip of the lake, eyes scanning the dark waters. So he does care... Chichiri, comforting a sobbing Chiriko. "Chiriko... He thinks it's his fault... Chichiri... worried..."

As he watched, he then saw Hotohori, head bowed. "He blames himself..." the bandit said in soft amazement. Tamahome... swimming in the cold water towards... someone... "Me..." He said softly, watching in amazement as he saw himself, lying at the bottom of the lake. "Still as handsome as ever, even if I a dead..." he added as an afterthought.

"Tasuki!"

"Hmm?" Tasuki turned back to Koji.

"Tasuki, they still need you, I still need you..." Tasuki offered up one of his fanged grins, but it was weak.

"I really would," He added seriously, "But I have been under a long time. Even if I did go back, I would probably die right after anyway." This fact was depressing, but he did toy with the idea if he could come back to life.

"Then, go, and at least say goodbye." Tasuki grinned again, this time stronger. "Right, Koji my friend. Here I go!" The last thing he saw was Koji's smiling face as the bandit turned and watched the scene unfold. /Wait for the right moment.../

It took all of Tamahome's strength to pull the bandit to the surface. He had been lying their, not breathing at the bottom of the lake. The water made his hair wave slowly, and he looked as if he were asleep. Tamahome knew better. Swimming with all his might, he could not seem to reach air fast enough. /Gotta... keep.../

Suddenly his mark blazed to life as he gritted his teeth, giving everything he had. PLOOSH! Gasping Tamahome broke the surface of the water, Tasuki being supported by him. Exhausted, Tamahome would have sunk back down to the bottom of the pond if Nuriko had not hauled the two fighters out, and dropping them on land.

Chichiri was already bent over Tasuki.

"He's not breathing no da!" the monk said worriedly as he felt his pulse.

"No!"

Chichiri looked up, "Chiriko..."

The sobbing boy threw himself at Tasuki, shaking him and then beating his fists against his side, crying. "Tasuki! TASUKI!" Suddenly Nuriko drew him to his side.

"Shh..." the warrior said softly. Chiriko's sobs filled the now empty plaza as the group stood, surrounding the still form of Tasuki.

"I almost forgot!"

With a curse, Tasuki spun around, fan in his hands. He had been watching the scene and had not heard anything behind him. Koji's grinning face floated before him.

"Dammit, Koji! Warn me next time!" panted the bandit after doing a face plant. The head continued on, unperturbed at the reaction.

"You won't be able to enter your body!" He said cheerily, as Tasuki's battle aura flamed.

"NANI?" He wailed, dancing in circles.

"First," the head continued, eyes closed, "You must possess a body of one of the Suzaku and tell them the following instructions..."

"And why," replied the bandit slowly, "Would that be."

"Just shut up and listen." Was the reply. Grumbling numerous curses, the bandit sat back down.

"You will be let back into the world, but as a ghost. In order to take your full form, they must find the two daji crystals that have the power to tie a spirit to its body. After possessing a body, you will be a ghost. They will be able to hear you, and you will feel and move objects. You can only touch them, and they will not be able see you. And oh yeah, you can only stay in the body for three minutes, otherwise you will be permanently dead!" He concluded happily. "Got all that?" he said cheerfully to the bandit.

Tasuki did not look up.

"So... ya want me to take over th' body of someone, tell em' to find some crystals that we can't find, tell em' my real body is in some sorta coma, leave the body or die, be a ghost, and then reunite with my body if they find the jewels?" he finished.

"Yep!"

The fanged boy heaved a sigh. "I expected as much." He said grumpily.

"Kay, you have ten minutes to pick your host, who will it be?" asked the tour guide spirit. An evil fanged grin spread over Tasuki's face. There could be benefits yet.

Authors note:

Raeka-chan: Please remember to R&R arigato!

Raebef-chan: Hn.

Raeka-chan: umm….and also..people want an idea of how far I am into GP already…well….um..we have 27 chapter written..and we are hard at work going over more…this is going to be very long…and we want it to be the best it can be!

Raebef-chan: and don't get us wrong…every now and then, we place things in our story that are not true to FY..i.e, the orb…I mean..c'mon..there is no orb…but that is why reviewing is so helpful...if anyone can give us ideas of how to make it more natural/accurate…don't hesitate to tell us…we will be gone for 4 days starting now, but when we get back, we will continue to update…

Raeka-chan: Hai! I hope u enjoy Ghost Paths! (GP)