disclaimer: see ch1

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Tasuki stared wide-eyed at Loki. "Y-ya know? But how? Is it really that obvious?" He asked the woman standing before him.

"I wouldn't call it obvious but I will say you aren't the best actor I've met. If your sisters didn't think you were dead, they probably would've at least taken into consideration who you may really be. But they all think that Shun'u is some weak little boy that was kidnapped and murdered, and that Tasuki is some big strong warrior or something like that," She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not saying he's not, but-"

"Well then why did ya help me?" The bandit asked suddenly, not expecting anything more than a shrug.

Loki laughed, "Well, assuming that Tasuki is smarter than your sisters say Shun'u is, I would think you already know that." When all she recieved was a blank stare, Loki sighed and walked back over to Tasuki. "I like you, Tasuki. You seem cool and you're kinda cute," She grabbed his chin with her thumb and her index finger. "Work on your acting," She said softly, staring into his gorgeous crimson eyes, before giving her wrist a flick, turning on her heel again, and bouncing off into the forest.

Tasuki just stood there and thought for a while, all he could remember was Loki's soft, emerald eyes, staring into his own. He didn't know why, but when that happened, he didn't want it to end.

"Gettin' caught up in all tha drama," He grumbled. It was then that Tasuki realized that he was alone, by a pond, and didn't know how to get home.

------Meanwhile, at 'Home'-------

"So, exactly how long has Shun'u been missing no da?" Chichiri asked Aidou, even though he already knew the answer.

"About six years, actually," she replied. Chichiri was sitting on the ground outside, meditating, and Aidou was trying to meditate with him. Neither of them could concentrate.

"So what do you think of Lea and Tasuki as a couple no da?" Chichiri was trying very hard not to laugh.

"I think they would be very cute together, if Tasuki accepted Lea's multiple flirts."

This is what they had been doing since Tasuki and Lea left for water, just sitting outside talking.

"Does Tasuki remind you of Shun'u no da?"

"Actually, yes. Their hair is the same color, and Shun'u had fangs as well. And a bad-ass attitude. And they are the exact same age, birthday and all. But there's just no way they are the same person. Shun'u was taken by bandits, and now that I think of it, isn't Tasuki the leader of a group of bandits? There's just no way that Shun'u could've made his way to the top through all those bandits when he couldn't even make it through us five."

"Do I remind you of Shun'u no da?"

"Honestly? Not really, the only thing about you that reminds me of him is the fact that you have an unnatural hair color and he had an unnatural hair color," Chichiri smiled at this, though Aidou couldn't see it for her eyes were closed. "Come to think of it, he was the only one in the entire family with an unnatural hair color. Everyone else had either black or brown."

"Do you miss Shun'u no da?"

"Well of course I do. After all, he was my brother and I did love him."

"Do you think he may have been stronger than you took him for no da?"

"I don't really know."

"Did you girls ever take him one on one, or was it always five on one?"

Aidou blushed, now knowing what Chichiri was getting at. She was thankful that they were meditating, so Chichiri's eyes were closed. "Um, no. I guess we almost always took him five on one. One time, when Shun'u was 11 and Kai was 15, she was trying to take him on by herself and if my parents hadn't come in at the last second and stopped him he would've hurt her real bad. He broke her arm, I believe. The next day, Lea, Koura, Kourin, and myself tried to take him in revenge, but he still beat us with great ease. The only way we ever won was by taking him all five at once with either mom or dad watching. He would always beat us without any struggle whatsoever if our parents were not watching us. So I guess he was stronger than all of us, even joined together, now that I think about it. He just let it seem like we were winning, so he could come back one day and rub it in our faces how strong he had become. He told us that many times right before he was...kidnapped. Um, Chichiri, mind if I ask a few questions?"

"Go right ahead no da," Chichiri smiled, Aidou was smart, she would soon figure out who Tasuki really was, and he hadn't broken his promise with Tasuki either, he wasn't hinting anybody.

"Um, is Tasuki gay?" Her question was answered when Lea came stomping home mumbling stuff like, 'Stupid man' and 'Loki and Tasuki boyfriend and girlfriend?', although Chichiri answered her anyway.

Again, Chichiri smiled. "No he is not, although he does claim that women are difficult no da."

"The mountain, the one within walking distance directly east from here, what is it called?"

"Mt. Reikaku no da," Chichiri answered without even opening his eyes.

"Are there bandits living in it?"

"I believe there are no da."

"And the bandit group that Tasuki is the leader of, what is it called?"

"They call themselves 'The Mt. Reikaku Bandits' no da."

"And one could get there easily from here?"

"Very easily. Especially if one could run quickly no da."

"Is Tasuki Shun'u?"

"Gomen, Aidou, but I'm afraid I do not know the answer to that question. I was trying to determine the same thing no da."

Yes! If I push just a bit further-"CHICHIRI! GET YER ASS IN HERE AN' SAVE ME!" Came Tasuki's voice from the forest.

"I'm afraid I must leave, my companion cannot swim and since Lea came home, he must be alone and scared no da."