Chapter 2

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Tasuki walked down a long hallway, humming to himself, rather happy. "Chiri is back! I haven't seen him forever." He said to himself as he walked up to a door, which was slightly cracked open. "What is he doing wit' the door open? He's too modest to even open it when I come to call on him."

"Chiri?" He knocked lightly before pushing open the door, spying a monk sound asleep on the bed. Mask off and lying atop of his folded clothes. Tasuki smiled. It wasn't very often Chichiri took that mask of his off.

Pulling up a chair quietly he sat down and stared at the slumbering older man, memorizing his quiet, peaceful features. He never understood why Chichiri always wanted to smile. Miaka told him it was over his scar and that people would be frightened over his disfigured face, but there was no way he could believe that, to him, Chichiri was beautiful.

He reached forward, brushing the blue bangs from Chiri's face, watching the man stir and wake. "Tasuki-Kun? What are you doing here?" He said in a sleep slurred voice, looking for his mask with his hands. Tasuki hastily picked it up, hiding it behind his back. "Tasuki." Chiri said grimly. "Please return my mask to me." He said, sitting up and holding out his hand.

"Please Chiri, just for me, leave it off." He gave a pathetic look, but the monk sighed anyway, dropping his hand.

"What are you doing in my room Tasuki?"

"I came to get you for dinner, but you were asleep."

"So you decided to wait in my room, while I was asleep I might add, for me to wake up?" Chiri gave him a withered look. "You've been acting strange since I returned, are you scared I will disappear or something? You haven't often let me out of your sight."

Tasuki knew it was true, and he knew that Chichiri had noticed. He couldn't help thinking he was going to lose the blue haired monk. He noticed that after Chichiri had left him a few months back, he became depressed, missing the 'no da's' and the ever present blue hair. "Gomen nasai Chiri, I just, I just missed you is all."

Chichiri smiled lightly at the red haired man, who was lightly blushing and staring at the floor. "Tasuki-Kun? Is there something you are not telling me?"

Tasuki visibly flinched. He knew he had deep feelings for the monk for awhile now, but refused to acknowledge them aloud. "Dinner is ready. I will see you in the galley." He roughly stood and turned exit, only to find himself paralyzed after taking only three steps.

"Talk to me Tasuki, you cannot run away forever. This is the second time you have tried to walk out on me." Chichiri stood up and stood in front of him, giving him a scrutinizing look. "Well no da?"

Tasuki gave a slightly paranoid look. How could he tell Chichiri, the one he had grown to like so much, and slowly develop something akin to love? How could he tell a monk of solitude something like that? He opened his mouth, only to close it again, only to reopen, and then close once more. He was reminding Chichiri of the fish he ate while wandering. "I uhh…"

"Tasuki-Kun! Spit it out no da!"

Tasuki lost it then, he couldn't spit it out, so he did the next best thing, if the words couldn't spill from his mouth, then he would just have to use his mouth. He was about to push himself forward when he was forcefully reminded of something dismal. "Chiri? Can you release me from your spell now?" He said, looking irritated. Dammit! He was still paralyzed! And his courage had disappeared to. 'SHIT!'

Chichiri smiled before making a sound, watching as Tasuki smiled as he noticed he could move. "Now talk flame boy!"

Tasuki stared into Chichiri's good eye, getting lost in the mahogany depths before leaning forward, capturing the monks lips in a solemn kiss. Closing his eyes and pulling away he whispered faintly. "I love you Chiri… I have for awhile now honestly." He about to turn away when the monk didn't respond, he feared the rejection, but before he could move, the older mans lips descended upon his.

"I love you too."

(Time Lapse!)

"I love you Chiri… I have for awhile now honestly."

"I love you too."

Genrou awoke with a start, staring at his surroundings, and spying his best friend lying on the bed next to his in his shared dorm. "What the hell was that?"

TBC

Well? What you think, huh? R/R