disclaimer: see ch1

ok, just so you know, the names of Tasuki's sisters I made up, except one. Aidou is the only name that was given to us, so I didnt make that one up. Also, Tasuki's real name is Shun'u Kou (Kou is the last name). I didnt make that up either. Just so ya know

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After everybody had finished talking, it was time to depart for bed.

"Chichiri, you can have the guest bedroom. Tasuki can sleep in my room," Lea said, batting her eyes at Tasuki.

"Like hell I'm sleepin' with ya! I'd rather sleep on tha ground!" Tasuki said, looking like he was about to throw up.

"No, you're sleeping with me!" Lea was being stubborn again.

Now I member why I hated it here so much. Frikin' sisters. Still, I'd rather have 'er love me than hate me...

Tasuki reached and grabbed his tessen again, causing Lea to back away.

"Tasuki, behave yourself no da. You wouldn't want to hurt any of these women and ruin your reputation would you? If you want, you can sleep in the guest bedroom with me, the bed looks big enough for us to have enough space so we don't have to touch eachother no da." Chichiri was actually trying not to laugh behind the mask.

Tasuki just stood there for a few seconds, then put his tessen back in the carrying case. "I guess yer right. No use ruinin' my rep. But we're not gonna touch eachother at all when we sleep, right?"

"Right no da," Chichiri nodded his head.

So everybody departed for bed, and Loki went home.

In the room, Chichiri was sitting on the floor meditating, again, and he got up and sat on the large bed next to Tasuki.

"Ok, so what are you planning to do now no da?"

"Nothin'. I'm just gonna sit back an' let what happens happen."

"What about Lea no da?"

"She's stubborn, she's not gonna leave me alone, no matter how many times I reject her."

"How old is everybody no da?"

"Well, tha oldest is Kai, she's 24. Lea's 23. Tha twins, Koura an' Kourin er 22. Aidou is tha youngest now that I'm dead, apparantly, and she's 21. Then there's me who just turned 20 today. But none of 'em care 'bout me anymore, even after I came all tha way here ta see 'em..."

"When do you want to leave no da?"

"Eh, I think we'll be fine here fer a couple o' days. I did kinda miss 'em, an' I wanted ta see if they figure out who I am by tha time we leave."

"Hai no da. Just let me know when you're ready to go home."

--------The next morning-------

"Taaaasssukiiii, wakey-wakey. It's time for breakfast." Tasuki grumbled and opened his eyes to see Lea's face about a half an inch away from his own, and she was laying on top of him in a robe...nothing else. Of course the robe was tied, but...still.

He jumped up, "SHIT! Don't scare me like that!" Lea was staring so he followed her gaze and noticed that he was only wearing his underwear. "GET OUT!"

Lea giggled and skipped out of the room.

When Tasuki walked into the kitchen, fully dressed, he found Chichiri sitting outside meditating. "Er-I need ta go an' talk ta my friend fer a minute, I'll be right back," He smiled and ran out the door.

"CHICHIRI! Why tha hell did ya leave me alone in that room? Lea came in an' woke me up, an' I was only in my underwear! Ya could've at least woken me up 'fore she got in there!"

"Gomen no da. I had to report to Houki and I wanted to see what you would do about Lea. After all, you're the one that said you were just going to let things happen as they happen no da," He turned to Tasuki and smiled an evil smile.

"Ya know, you er one mean monk. I'm goin' back ta eat. I'm starved."

As soon as he walked in, all eyes were on Tasuki. "Oookaaay," He said as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Everybody continued talking and began to eat.

After breakfast, Tasuki was sitting outside staring at the sky when he got thirsty. He went inside to ask if there was any drinking water. "No, not here," Aidou replied, not even looking up from the sink, where she was washing the dishes. "However, there is a small freshwater pond-" Tasuki froze up at her mention of 'Pond'. She continued, "But you will need someone to accompany you there. I would go, but I'm busy with chores-" She looked at Tasuki, still frozen, and laughed, "You know, Shun'u couldn't swim either."

"What er ya talkin' 'bout senor? Of course I can swim."

"Ok, then. I suggest you find somebody who knows where the pond is to take you."

Just then, Lea appeared right behind Tasuki. "I'll take him."

"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!"

"Well good luck finding somebody else. Kai, Koura, and Kourin went to the market. Aidou is doing chores. Chichiri is meditating still, and even if he wasn't he wouldn't know where the pond is," Lea stated matter-of-factly.

Aidou, still without looking up, said, "She's got you there. Guess your gonna have to go with her if you're thirsty. And Lea, while you're there," She took a bucket and threw it in Lea's direction, "Could you bring some home please? Thanks." She then returned to doing the dishes.

Lea turned to Tasuki and smiled, "Come on. Let's go. We wouldn't want my Tasuki-poo to die of thirst would we."

Seeing he had no choice if he wanted to live, he followed Lea outside.

At the pond, Tasuki put one foot under him and crouched down, careful to keep his balance so as to not fall in the water. He reached down with one hand and scooped up some water, while he had the other hand help maintain his balance as well.

"You know, Shun'u couldn't swim either," Lea pointed out. "We would make fun of him for that too."

"Really?" Tasuki said through clenched teeth. "That's nice."

"But I won't make fun of you, because I think it's cute that you can't swim."

"Ya think everythin' 'bout me is cute," Tasuki grumbled under his breath. Lea handed him the bucket and said, "Here. Now you don't need to get cramps."

"Gee, thanks," The bandit retorted with false excitement, ripping the bucket out of her hands and drinking as much as he could in one breath. After all, he hadn't had anything to drink since before he left the palace. Well, except a bit of sake.

"Tasuki?"

"What?"

Lea walked up to Tasuki and caught him off guard by kissing him. As soon as he got over the shock that came with being kissed by your older sister, he shoved her off hard and wiped his lips, spit, rinsed his mouth, and stuff like that.

"WHAT THA HELL WAS THAT FER?"

"Tasuki?"

"WHAT NOW? AN' DON'T YA DARE TRY TA KISS ME AGAIN!"

"Tasuki, why don't you like me?"

Feeling a pang of guilt, he walked over to comfort her.

"It's not that, it's juet-well-really hard ta explain, an' if I tell ya then I would lose my bet with Chiri-"

"Most men are after me all the time, you and Chichiri are the only men I have ever met that weren't attracted to me, other than my dad and Shun'u. And gay ones..."

Tasuki's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What er ya sayin'?"

"Are you gay? Is that why you aren't attracted to me? You and Chichiri?"

"Wha-? I-uh-n-um-" The bandit was stuttering. He had a tough choice to make. I can tell 'er tha truth 'bout who I am...an' lose my bet with Chiri...Tasuki whimpered at the thought of no sake for three months. Or I can swallow my pride an' say I'm g-g-gay...Tasuki looked around. No Chiri hidin' somewhere ready ta pop out an' make somethin' up...

He decided on the latter. There's no way I'm givin' up on sake fer three whole months.

"Ok, there's somethin' 'bout me ya don't know. Tha reason I'm not attracted ta ya-"

"Tasuki-chan? There you are! I have been looking all over for you. Were you flirting with this girl? How could you? I thought we were together," It was Loki. She ran up and hugged Tasuki around the waist.

He hugged her back, a little startled at her sudden appearance. "What er ya doin' here Loki?" He quietly whispered in the woman's ear.

"Saving your butt now shut up and play along," She whispered back.

"Right," The bandit mumbled. "Tha reason I'm not attracted ta ya is cuz I have a girlfriend. Right Loki, uh, babe?"

"Hai. You better not be attracted to her," The redhead let go of Tasuki's waist and turned to face Lea, who was still in shock. "Isn't your sister waiting for you? Shoo. Go ahead. What are you waiting for?" Loki crossed her arms and started tapping her foor. "Well?"

"I-I-just-Tasuki, the famous, powerful Tasuki, and-and you? As in Loki? Ugh, I don't understand!" With that the stubborn woman stomped off.

As soon as Lea was out of sight, Loki walked back into the forest.

"No, wait!" Tasuki grabbed her arm. "Why did ya do that back there? Why did ya save me like that?"

Loki spun around on one heel and put her hands on her hips, "Because you may have fooled everybody in your family, but I know who you are Tasuki. Or should I say Shun'u."

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DUNT DUNT DUNT

I may not be able to update soon because I'm packing up all of three of my computers tomorrow. Sorry to leave you here, I think this my favorite of all my stories at this point.

But feel free to review anyway!