The ride to the Konan palace took less time then expected. There had been some puzzlement over how the spirit Tasuki would travel until he figured out that he could just float. As the strange procession walked down the road, Chiriko posed a interesting question, one that Tasuki could not resist.
"Does your power still work?" he asked curiously to the invisible bandit. Hotohori turned a look of interest on his face.
"I hadn't thought of that." he said, curiosity in his voice. "Does your power work?" Tasuki scratched his head, shrugging before remembering that nobody could see him.
"Actually, I have no idea." he said, fingering his fan in his hands. An evil fanged grin lit his invisible features. "There is a way to find out..." he said slyly. The Suzaku, who knew what was going to unfold, hit the dirt, except for one. "REKKA SHIEN!" yelled the bandit, swinging his fan in a wide arc. FOOM! the force of the blast sent hot waves of scorching heat rolling through the still night. A jet of flame seemed to issue out of thin air as the tailsmen did its job.
A charred and blackened Tamahome fell to the earth (mwahahahaha...) with a thud, much to the amusement of Tasuki, who could not suppress a snigger.
"Dammit Tasuki!" yowled the unfortunate warrior as his mark blazed to life on his forehead.
"Guess that answers our question, no da!" commented Chichiri, allowing a small grin. Somewhat mollified, Tamahome fumed the rest of the way, giving off a charred and burning smell. Nuriko grinned at the familiarity of it all. Tasuki loved frying Tamahome.
"Sorry Tama," the bandit said gleefully, "Guess you got in the way. Again!"
Tamahome launched himself at the unseen apparition, hitting the ground with a satisfying thump as he caught empty air.
"Goddammit," he growled, pulling himself up. "We had better get you changed back fast so I can throttle you when you have a body."
Nuriko sighed. Ah yes, the familiarity of it all.
"Oh really?" answered Tasuki in a teasing voice. "I'm not so sure that you could beat me that easily!"
This intense barrage of wit and skill continued through the remainder of the journey to the Konan palace. As they reached the giant royal gate, Tasuki paused, unseen by everyone else, who continued on without him. He looked down, deep in thought.
/Maybe I should just stay dead. / He thought briefly before giving his head a shake. /Na. besides../
"I'm having too much fun!" he said out loud. Startling the guards who could see nothing. Noticing this point, Tasuki got another evil grin on his face.
"Heh."
At the sounds of screams, the Suzaku whirled around, ready for battle. What they saw amazed them. The palace guards ran to and fro, warding off an invisible attacker. Nuriko turned, scanning the air around him.
"Tasuki?" he asked tentatively before looking back on the scene.
"Oh boy..." sighed Tamahome.
"You don't think it's..." asked Hotohori...
"It's Tasuki, no da!" certified Chichiri, with a small sigh.
"It's no fair! I wanna' do it to!" yelped Nuriko, totally out of character for one moment before settling down and glaring at the apparition. Everyone looks at him and sweat drops
"So..." asked Chiriko, with a smile. "How do we restrain Tasuki now that he is a ghost?"
"You can't." said a gleeful voice in the young boys ear, causing him to give a yell of fright and turned, seeing nothing. The Suzaku looked around them, trying to locate his position.
"I'm a ghost," he continued, giving Tamahome a push, in which he staggered, unprepared at all. "You can't see me, and it could come in handy," he said as he lifted Nuriko into the air, to which he gave a shriek and batted the air behind him with his fist. Contact. Nuriko dropped.
"Itetetetetetetet..." moaned Tasuki from somewhere as Nuriko picked himself up with a grin.
"Sorry Tasuki."
Chichiri bowed his head, the rings on his staff clinking as he shifted his hold.
"Hmph. serves you right, no da!" Hotohori grinned. This was indeed going to be interesting. Tamahome laughed.
"What so funny Tama." growled the injured Tasuki from his unknown place. Tamahome laughed again before answering.
"That even when he isn't trying, Nuriko can cream you."
"REKKA SHIEN!" yelled the fanged bandit as the Suzaku hit the dirt, all except for Tamahome, much to Tasuki's delight.
"An opening." he commented calmly as he landed, having burnt his temper. A charred Tamahome fell to the dirt, only to leap up again with a growl.
"Why you..."
This scene would have continued if Miaka had not appeared, dressed in her school uniform, yawning.
"Tamahome!" she cried happily, her eyes lighting up, "Nuriko! Chichiri!" as she said their names, the warriors grinned or bowed. Miaka walked right by Tasuki. The fanged bandit bowed his head in understanding that he may never again be a real person if he did not find those shards.
"Dammit." he said softly, but it was weak, and he saw Nuriko give him a sympathetic smile. Tasuki whipped around at the sound of the young Miko's scream.
"Tasuki!" she cried. The body of Tasuki lay on the ground where Tamahome had deposited it in his scrap with the real Tasuki. "Tasuki! TAUSKI! Kiasde! Speak to me!" Her cries made Chichiri wince and he turned towards Nuriko, who was staring open-mouthed at the scream.
"Now would be a good time to explain, no da!" he said softly to his friend.
"Huh?" he said, still transfixed. Tasuki whapped him on the head. "Oh! Yeah, sry..." he said apologetically. The warrior walked over to Miaka who was sobbing, draped over the body of Tasuki.
"Miaka," he said softly, holding her and looking her in the eyes.
"N-Nuriko..." she sobbed. "W-What ha-happened..." Nuriko waited until she had calmed down before continuing. He turned to the others.
"Could you all leave us for a moment?" he asked softly, to which they complied, except for Tasuki, who remained seated in the air watching with detached fascination. Nuriko explained how Tasuki had saved Chiriko and had drowned. As he told the story, Tasuki watched the young girl. A feeling bubbled up inside him as he watched her softly touch his cheek, and shivered as he felt no attachment to his body.
"So..." she said finally, "Tasuki is a ghost?" Nuriko grinned.
"I know it sounds weird, caus' it is!" Tasuki winced. "But it's true." New tears began to form in Miaka's eyes.
"Where is he...? I need to- to see him." Nuriko looked up, finding Tasuki immediately, and nodded. Slowly, unsure Tasuki walked over to Miaka, and kneeled next to her. She looked up, surprising Tasuki, who knew he could not be seen.
"Tasuki." She whispered, before throwing herself into him. Slowly, the bandit encircled her with his arms, and they stayed that way, rocking back and forth as Miaka cried. "I don't want to lose you Tasuki." she cried softly into his tunic.
"Shh." he said quietly. "You will never lose me." Nuriko backed away slowly, leaving the two sitting in the courtyard. An invisible hand brushed back some of the brown hair that had fallen in Miaka's face as they held each other.
"How did you know I was there?" Tasuki asked softly, gently wiping away a stray tear that rolled down her face.
"I could feel you." she said, looking at him. As Tasuki thought about this, Miaka leaned into him.
"M-Miaka..." Tasuki said awkwardly, not sure what to do. He thought about pulling away but something made him stay. "Miaka what is it?" he asked in surprise as she started to cry again. 'Gee she can cry a lot.' the bandit part of him thought briefly before his concern took over.
"When... I saw... your body." she said between sobs, "I thought... I thought..." Her sentence was cut off when Tasuki pulled her to him, causing Miaka to cut off in surprise.
"No..." he said softly, "Not dead... but almost." The Miko heaved a small shuttering sigh and closed her eyes. She felt safe in Tasuki's arms, and when she closed her eyes, it was as if he were really there, and he could be seen. She had felt so scared when she had seen him. When she thought he was dead her mind had been screaming, her world ripping apart at the seams.
/Tasuki... You promised... Tasuki.../ "Tasuki..." she whispered, causing the fanged boy to turn. No one could see him, Miaka being held by an apparition, a ghost. And so, it was only Miaka who felt the utter surprise when she felt his lips meet hers in a short, passionate kiss, before she was placed gently on the ground, and he was gone.