Alatáriël: Hey everybody! I just saw Dirty Dancing Havana Nights. That's the best movie EVER... if

not a bit cheesy. LOL.

Kate: You just liked the cute Cuban boy and his naughty dancing.

Alatáriël:... Just imagine Chichiri in his shoes! Drool!

Kate:... blushes

Alatáriël: Nice, isn't it?

Chichiri: Eyes the girls warily as they look at him with glazed over eyes Daaaa... You don't own

me, and I'm not your naughty dance slave, no da!

Alatáriël: gasps and covers Chichiri's mouth with her hand Shhh! You're going to make this fic

rated R if you don't shush! And tune down the sexiness, would you!

Chichiri:...

Kate: ACK! The curtain's rising!

Everyone runs off stage in a panic.. except Chichiri, who dances off the stage in a hurry all sexy like

Chapter 27: Near Love Misses and Awkward Kisses

Dinner went by in almost complete silence. Well, Chichiri and Kate sat in silence, but business was

booming in the tavern. Kate wasn't sure if the silence was because of what had just taken place

up-stairs or if it was because Chichiri was too busy counting the rice particles in his bowl to focus on

anything else at the moment.

Kate decided to try and ignore the silence by stuffing her face with something that looked like chicken

teryakki. She hadn't quite realized how hungry she was until she began eating. Before she knew it she

had downed three and a half plates of food before she finally felt satisfied, though her satisfactory didn't

last long after she looked over to her companion and saw him looking into space in her general direction.

He had only ate a half of his bowl of rice.

"Chichiri?", she asked. He snapped out of his daydreaming to look at her, his expression hidden, "Yes, no

da?" "Are you feeling alright? You've barely ate anything...", she began. Chichiri just smiled, "Ah, yes,

I'm fine, no da. I'm just not feeling very hungry... Please excuse me, Kate-chan, no da."

Saying than he got up, bowed his head to her slightly, and he was out the door, and Kate was

left wondering what the hell had just happened... but another, reluctant, part of her knew exactly what

had just happened, and boy was that one hell of an headache.

'This is insane! We're on a trip to save the world from evil not having...THIS', she thought

irritably and downed the other half of her plate. No sooner than she placed her chopsticks down

a bottle of sake landed noisily on the table. Kate looked up and saw Josh standing there, looking

stern. "It's the best in town. Let's drink up and do some male bonding", Josh said and Kate laughed.

"Josh, I'm under age... and female!", she said with a grin, glad to see her friend. She knew from

experience he wasn't one to talk about his feelings right out and this was his way of saying 'let's try

to forget any of this happened and I'll tell you what ever you want to know as soon as I'm drunk

enough', though he'd never suggested for her to drink with him before nor had he ever drank in big

quantities around her before.

"We can ignore all that for now. Plus, it's a great pain killer", he replied and took Chichiri's empty

seat. He poured himself a cup of sake before pouring her a cup and passing it over. She looked at

the strong smelling liquid with an up-turned nose. Her step-dad had drunk way too much for her

liking, and she wasn't so keen on taking on tradition.

Josh rose an eyebrow at her over his cup, "Something wrong?" She shook her head, "No, nothing."

Kate eyed the rice wine with suspicion before taking a hesitant sip.

Chichiri walked threw town, passing closing stands and darkening streets. He really didn't want to

return to the Inn yet. His mind was too distracted. 'You act too rashly, monk ', he told himself. He

hated to admit it, but not only was he completely overjoyed Kate had her memory back he was

getting too close to her for comfort... and something in him liked that.

It had started out innocently enough with inspecting the injuries she had obtained from Nakago, but

then he found out that he... he... No! He wouldn't even think about that! He was the eldest of the

Suzaku warriors, the most responsible, the most able to keep his emotions in check! But... He'd

also never had much experience with this emotion. 'And I want nothing to do with it, no da... Itshould be stopped while it still can be. No, it will be stopped, no da. It's for the best.'

With these thoughts in mind, Chichiri turned down another ally way, still not completely satisfied with

his thoughts. While his brain screamed one thing, his heart screamed another.

"One two three!", Kate said as both she and Josh drank down another cup of sake. The drink itself

wasn't so bad once you got past the bitter taste. She was surprised at how fast she had began to feel

a little sluggish, and was quite happy to know her room was just across the room and up the stairs.

There were two men and three bar maids standing by their table, cheering as they drank yet another

cup. What were they doing, you ask? Why, they were seeing who could drink more before they

either passed out (or couldn't continue). Why?... Well, there was a reason to begin with, but Kate was

way too drunk to recall what that reason was at the moment... Ask her again in a few minutes. Maybe

she'll have the answers then.

"Woo!", Kate cheered as she finished her cup. Josh joined in as he saw her start to lean to one side

and slowly side from the table and on to the floor. Their audience laughed and cheered as Josh

grinned and got out of his chair, fists in the air. After the cheering died down (and the Innkeeper

told his employees to get back to work) Josh scooped his plastered friend off the floor and carried

her to the room.

As they ascended the stairs she mumbled something Josh barely caught. He smiled to himself, "Don't

worry, Kate. I'm sure Chichiri's fine." Kate sighed slightly and gripped onto Josh's arm in a wanna-be

hug, mumbling her thanks in his ear.

As one might guess... Since Josh was a much more experienced drinker than Kate it took more to get

him drunk. One might also guess that this was all planed to begin with... I will also take this space to

say that I in no way encourage the drinking of alcohol. It can make the best people in the world into

absolute brutes, but since this is my fanfiction I can control the drunkenness and the events that occur

because of the drunkenness. Kids, don't be careless!

Anyhow, as I was saying, since it is possible this was all planed it is to be expected there was an

alternative motive in here some where, wouldn't you say? If you guessed any of this... You would be

right.

"Josh... Do you think Chichiri hates me?", Kate asked as Josh opened the door (with a little difficulty)

and walked inside the darkening room. "Hate you?", Josh asked in return as he sat her on her own bed

and removed her shoes. "Uh huh", Kate replied.

(AN: Also, I'd like to say that Kate is slurring here in the next few paragraphs. I just didn't write it

that way since... well... spell check would KILL me! XD So just try to sound it out in your head, ok?)

"I don't think so. Why would you ask?", he said with a almost too innocent tone in his voice. "I think

he's mad at me", she began. "Mad at you? For what?", Josh asked as he reached down and picked

up the backpack he received from Alatáriël.

"I think... I might have... feelings for him", she said slowly as if trying to find the right words. "Feelings,

you say?", he asked, "like what kind of feelings?" Kate made a face, "Not sure... Do you think he'd

feel the same?" Josh smiled, "You're not making any since, Kate."

A moment of silence went by before Josh came across what he was looking for in the bag, a lighter.

(AN: That would have been my mom's. LOL. She won't miss it.) He lit an oil lamp sitting on the stand

between their beds that sent a glow around the room. "I'm glad you're here, Josh", Kate said finally

and Josh grinned, "You really are drunk, aren't you?"

Kate grinned right back, "Maybe, or maybe I'm just acting like I'm drunk so we can do some good oldbonding." Josh didn't say anything, but began to grin evilly. He put one hand on her shoulder and

pushed her slightly.

She fell over, laughing drunk, and tried to get up again. Her progress was stopped, however when

Josh decided to create a very unfair and unjust form of war-fair as he tackled his friend in a sudden

urge to preform a mild act of mayhem. (AN: If this wasn't interrupted he would have said "If you're

not drunk then why can I push you over so easily?"... but...)

Unfortunately however, before he could begin operation 'Tickle Her Until She Turns Blue' the door

opened and the air went still. Now, this wasn't the first time Chichiri had seen Josh and Kate at one

of their games, but this game could have easily been interpreted for something completely different as

Kate was stuck between Josh and the bed, Josh having been half-way sprawled onto his friend, and

both looking at the door with a Deer-In-Headlights look in their eyes (Well, as much as Kate could

look with her drunkenness)... much like a little kid who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Ah fck", came Josh's reply as everyone felt the air go thick with tension, which was mostly directed

in his two companion's directions. "Am I... interrupting anything?", Chichiri asked, sounding a little

strained. "Ah no!", Josh said and practically teleported to the other side of the room.

Kate looked from her two friends skeptically, somehow completely ignoring the negative energy before

her. Suddenly her face took on an angry appearance and her head snapped in Chichiri's direction,

"Where have you been! I was worried!"

Before I continue I'd like to preform some simple math for you all... Kate + drunk Kate says

whatever comes to mind. Josh + tight spot fidgeting. Chichiri + not so happy mood a need

for caution... All of these things put together in one room at the same time... isn't the brightest of ideas

as the following will prove.

"W--- Have you been drinking?", Chichiri asked. "What if I have been? Where were you?", Kate

replied sharply. "Where I was is no matter to you!", before he could say more he was interrupted once

again. "What's your problem?", Kate was yelling now. Josh rose his hands up, trying to intervene, but

this was way beyond him. All he could do was watch as Chichiri suddenly shouted, "You're my

problem!"

And with that... The room went completely silent. Kate stared at him, eyes wide. 'What?', she thought,

not wanting to believe her own ears. Then everything moved slowly as Chichiri reached up to his face,

tore off his mask, threw it to the floor, and suddenly turned in Josh's direction.

Before Josh knew what hit him he was outside the room with a door slammed in his face, a little too

close to his nose for comfort.

Chichiri locked the door sharply and turned to Kate, who had now moved to the edge of the bed.

"You are my problem!", he stated once again except more forcefully than last time, "You... You make

me so... Not like myself! I hate that I can't control my own emotions! I hate that I... feel... so attached

to you, and there is nothing I can do about it!"

Kate swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. Had just said... No... He couldn't have.

He hated her... didn't he? "You don't... do you... hate me?", she asked as she felt tears beginning to

gather in her eyes. "No, Kate-chan... How could you ask me that?", he replied more softly and she

began to cry. "It was ok to like you when you were just in a manga, but now... now... I need to focus

on the story, but I'm so distracted by you! Why do you have to be so... wonderful!", she practically

screamed at him. It would have been a very romantic moment if Kate had been sober.

All of a sudden Chichiri was walking up to her. His right hand went to the side of her face while the

other lifted up her chin, and he had his mouth pressed against hers. He leaned in, and due to her

drunkenness she simply fell back. Quite suddenly they both found themselves in a very similar and

yet different possession as Kate and Josh had been in just minutes before.

Josh's face was basically creating a crater in the door. He would have kicked the door in if only he had

the money to pay for repairs. Everything had suddenly gone silent, and he couldn't say he wasn't worried.

I mean, how many things do you know that could make a person go from screaming their heads off

to the point people were peeking their heads out of their rooms seven doors down to completely

silent in almost an instant? A gun shot? A heart attack? A mute button?

But no... It was none of these as quite suddenly Chichiri had just kissed Kate for the first time. After

keeping their emotions bottled up inside for so long it suddenly seemed ok to express it... if it wasn't

for a little, itty bitty, tiny problem. "You're drunk, no da", Chichiri stated quite matter-of-factly as

Kate leaned up to kiss him again. She simply "uh huh"ed in agreement.

Chichiri moved his head to the side so she couldn't kiss him, which ended up to be a mistake as she

kissed his neck lightly. He in took a breath, "Kate-chan, we have to stop this."

(AN: OMG! NO! My actors are getting out of control! At this rate I'll REALLY have to rate it higher!

Noooo! Gets out the water hose, just in case)

He pulled away from her, shaking his head, "No, no da." Kate stared at him, looking slightly confused,

and very flushed, "No?" "No", he replied. She sighed slightly, looking a little disappointed (Ok, fine, she

looked DEVASTATED), "Ok... Maybe tomorrow?" Chichiri couldn't help but laugh at that, "You never

know, Kate-chan, no da. You may hate me in the morning."

Kate shook her head, "No I won't... I love you, Chichiri." Chichiri suddenly felt a lump form in his

throat. When was the last time someone had said those words to him? He was shocked so hard by

her words that he barely realized Kate was blinking rapidly, trying to stay awake.

He forced a smile, "We'll talk tomorrow, no da." Kate nodded, satisfied with that, and

turned over, closing her eyes. Chichiri sighed and put a hand to his face. He still felt where all his

blood was gathered in his ears and his neck up. 'She was drunk, no da', he told himself as he

thought over her words. She couldn't love him. That was the only logical reason wasn't it?...

That she was drunk?

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang, and the sudden flight of a once locked door swinging

open. There, in the fading oil lamp's light, stood Josh with the door's hinges in his hand. He looked

around the room wildly, breathing heavily, before he noticed Chichiri and Kate's forms on her bed.

"You didn't kill her, did you?", Josh panicked. Chichiri sweatdroped, "Uh... no, no da." Josh's

face took on a more relaxed look and he walked over to where Chichiri was sitting. "So...", Josh

began. "Yes, no da?", came Chichiri's reply. "How'd it go?", Josh asked.

A small pause. "We'll see in the morning. Good night, Josh-kun, no da", Chichiri said, got up, and

headed to his bed. Josh made a face then looked over to Kate's form, which was facing away from

him, and grinned mischievously, "I guess we will."

The next morning Kate awoke to the sound of birds... Very loud, very painful birds. "Oh god", she

groaned and covered her ears. (AN: Just to tell you... I've never been drunk so I have no clue what

a hangover is like. --;; Please forgive any mistakes.) What had she DONE!

To tell the truth she was having some trouble remembering... She lay on the bed, one arm slung over

her eyes as she tried to think of exactly what had happened. Then it hit her... as a figure of speech,

of course. However, it did rather feel like someone had punched her in the stomach. Had he?... Had

they?... Kate could felt all her blood rush into her ears. 'No, it had to have been a dream... An alcohol

induced dream. That's it', she thought.

Now, however, her 'dream' was coming back to her full swing. She cringed and forced herself to move

her arm away from her face. She needed to apologize and now. 'How could have I forced myself on

him like that!', she thought as she VERY slowly crept out of bed.

Ok, maybe she was short a few details... and maybe her memory was in short, chunky, unorganized

bits... but as far as she could remember Chichiri had walked over to her while they were having a

argument and she had totally and completely tried to force herself on him! What had she been thinking?

Just as she was about to make it to the door Josh entered the room caring a mug in each hand. Kate's

eyes widened as she noticed the door was now opening... backwards. "Josh look out!", Kate yelled

before clutching her head and falling to her knees. When suffering a hangover it's amazing how often a

rearranged door can look like it's actually falling on someone... What? You don't believe me! Well,

fine. No one asked you! But that really wasn't the reason for her sudden fall... Screaming was like

angry cats on a chalk board. Ten times worse than nails, I promise you.

Anyhow, after Josh saw Kate sink to the floor he immediately rushed over to her and sat his drinks on

the floor. "Kate, are you alright!", he asked. Kate winched at his voice, "Josh, please... not so loud."

Josh frowned and whispered, "Sorry, here drink this."

Kate slowly opened her eyes to a mug of some kind of tea. Kate took the cup and smiled up at Josh.

"Hi", she said. "Morning. Sleep well?", he asked. Something in his eyes told her he was suggesting

something, but she didn't want to think about it. Her head was hurting way too much for her to think

about much more than the dull, but painful, ringing that plagued her brain.

"Yeah", she replied as they moved to Josh's bed to sit down. "Really? That's good because we're

going to busy today. You'll need your energy", he said cheerfully before taking a drink out of his own

mug. Kate gave him a pointed look, but he didn't say anymore on the topic. Instead he switched to a

different topic, "Chichiri left the inn quite early this morning."

Kate swallowed down a mouthful of tea. "It must have been around seven. The sun was just rising...",

Josh continued, watching her over his cup. "What time is it now?", Kate asked. "Noon", came her

reply. Kate choked "NOON!" before cringing and swearing lightly under her breath.

Josh nodded, ignoring her fit, "Yeah... So, how did things go last night between you two?" Kate now

noticed he seemed completely serious and was staring holes into her eyes as if she had just said "Hey,

Josh, wanna know the meaning of life? Cause I just got this fortune cookie here and..." She rose an

eyebrow, "What?"

"Well, what happened? Remember? I got thrown out of the room?", he said. "Uh... Yeah... I... um...

It's kind of embarrassing...", came her intelligent reply. Josh frowned, "Oh come on! It can't be that bad!

I was only out there for a minute or two! Surely nothing too bad could have happened." Kate laughed

dryly, "Yeah right... I only tried to shove my tongue down his throat. Nothing bad about that, right?"

Kate's mind cringed at her words, but she was feeling a little moody and didn't care to take back her

words. "You did what!",he exclaimed before grinning slightly, "No wonder the monk looked so

flustered... Hey, since he's a monk do you think that was his first kiss?" Kate glared up and him, "Get

out."

Josh opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Kate, "I said get out!" Josh frowned, "Kate, I was

just playing around!" "OUT!", came her more forceful reply. She was now basically backing him out

the door and he left without further argument, but stopped her from closing the door with his foot.

"Kate... There is one more thing...", he said seriously. Kate stopped herself from pushing him out, but

crossed her arms across her chest as her temper boiled. "He told me that when you woke up he

wanted you to meet up with him down by the river."

Kate immediately forgot her anger and dragged him back into the room, "What? What for?" Josh just

grinned, "I'm glad you're feeling better. That was some of the best tea around for hangovers." He

then winked and left the room. Kate groaned. He was up to his tricks again.

But he was right. Her hangover was diminished. Now it just felt like a minor headache, but she had

a feeling it was going to turn into a migraine by the end of the day. After changing into an extra shirt

and taking care of some business she headed downstairs, backpack in hand.

Chichiri sat completely still by the water's edge. His eyes were closed and his bangs were waving

gently in the breeze. Now, one might think meditation is simple, but you don't just sit there and let

your butt go numb as you try to look threw the backs of your eye lids. In fact, it is kind of hard to

explain the meditation process. In it you try to not hold on to any thoughts. You let them pass by

you like sand threw your fingers.

In meditation you can sort out your thoughts and focus at matters at hand in which you are having

difficulties finding solutions to. It has even been known as a form of communication with the gods.

However, at this present place and time Chichiri found himself doing little more than letting his rump

go numb.

It wasn't that he couldn't meditate, but rather that he found himself falling asleep in the light desert

breeze. The shade of the tree he was under and the feel of the grass beneath him made it even more

difficult to stay awake. He had been sitting out here for hours, meditating on the present events that

had him questioning himself. He knew that if he was going to be a help to the Suzaku no Miko he

needed all of his thoughts and feelings in order.

He pushed the slight nervousness out of his mind when his meditation took to 'what ifs' and 'maybes'

concerning the girl whom he was waiting on. After a good night's sleep he was feeling quite well

with the world, but he couldn't be sure they would stay that way for long.

Chichiri let out a sigh and once again had to remind himself he'd just have to be patient and see what

happened. Chichiri was a very patient man, and he took pride in that fact. Pushing down any conflict

in his mind he let himself relax in the grass and nod off into a light sleep.

The city was up and busy again just like the day before. Children ran threw the streets, chasing each

other. Women sold items and food from stalls, and men were seen fixing homes, selling things like

knifes and pots with pans.

Kate was quite surprised when one man tried to sell her a strange dog as he waved it around in the air

by its feet. "Young woman! A fine meal for you!", the man called at her over the crowd. She stared

at the man, her face pale. He didn't just say meal, did he?

"It's a good dog! Nice and tender meat!", he said and pinched the canine in the side, making it

squawk. Kate felt her stomach turn, 'That poor animal!' Kate, like most American teenagers, had

never seen a dog as a potential food product. She couldn't imagine seeing one on someone's plate

if she had any say in it.

She subconsciously walked toward the vendor and his dog. "Would you like this dog?", he asked. Kate

whimpered mentally and brought he hands out, "C-can I hold it?" The vendor nodded happily, seeing

a sell in the near future. Kate took the poor animal into her arms. It couldn't have been more than a

few months old, and was scruffy looking. It was a simple brown puppy with a stubby little tail.

It had short ears that made him look a little odd to Kate, whom had only owned long eared dogs.

"It is a delicacy!", the vendor spoke just as Kate noticed the dog's right back leg had been broken

recently. She felt its stomach, as if inspecting it as she had seen people look at race horses in movies.

"How much?", she asked, trying as she might to seem skeptical. In reality she wanted nothing more

than to hug the dog protectively to her chest and claim animal abuse on the owner before running

off with the small animal in her arms, but here she had to play by his rules. "For you, my dear? Only

six bronze pieces", the merchant said with a twinkle in his eye.

Kate made a face. She didn't have any money... She'd have to improvise. "Will you take a trade, sir?",

she asked. He eyed her sceptically, "What could you have that I would want that my own daughters

wouldn't have?" She held the puppy with her left arm and slung her back pack off of her right. With

one hand she carefully undid the knots. She slipped her hand in and dug around for a moment before

pulling out one of her daggers. "I'll trade you this for the pu-- dog", she said.

The mans eyes widened at the dagger, which from her time could have been found in any China

Store. The fact it had an Egyptian King on it seemed to be irrelevant. "What is this!", the man asked.

"No, never mind. I don't care! Take your dog!", he said again.

Kate nodded and quickly ran off. She was as worried as he going back on his word as he was of hers.

She only stopped when she had reached the out skirts of town, near the river. She stopped and bent

over, breathing heavily. She felt her headache returning and gritted her teeth. She was trying to erase

the thoughts of other dogs and the chopping blocks she imagined in the back of her mind.

Gulping up any air she could get, she stared at the pup.

"Ah crap", she cursed to herself, realizing she didn't have a leash to hold him with. 'Think think', she

chanted to herself as she looked over everything she had with her. It was then she noticed the sash

she wore around her waist.

Within five minutes she had made the young dog a collar and leash combo. She had decided to not

make the dog walk by itself since it's leg was broken, a prospect the puppy wasn't so happy about.

She guessed he hadn't been held affectionately before... She'd have to change that...

She was caught up in her thoughts that she was taken by surprise when she found herself at the river's

edge. She thanked whatever gods might be looking after her since the little angle she had just saved

was now gnawing a hole in her arm. She glared at the pup, "Yeah, sure. THIS is how you thank me,

you mangy mutt!"

After a minute or so walking the river's edge she noticed something that looked very out of place, a

clump of blue grass. She paused to stare at the phenomenon before her until logic took over.

"Chichiri?", she asked and moved toward the object slowly.

As she moved closer Chichiri became more visible. He had one arm behind his head and the other

across his stomach as he slept. His mask was firmly in place, but since his chest was rising all falling

slower than normal Kate guessed he was asleep.

Sighing lightly to herself she moved past him and to the river. Lowering her little bundle of joy near

the water to drink she didn't notice the monk stir and sit up slightly. "We're going to have to do some

thing about that leg...", Kate told the dog as it lapped at the water, "and we need a name for you...

Spike? Rover? Donald Trump?... Hmmm. Inuyasha? Heh. Sit, boy!"

She laughed at the idea, but then decided she didn't want to give the author of this fic a migraine with

disclaimers. Thinking threw her favorite book she finally decided on a name, Condor. Sure, it was

the name of "The Horse" in Green Rider by Kristen Britain, but... He did kind of look like a miniature

horse.

"Condor", she said out loud to the pup, testing it out. She nodded in satisfaction. It would do.

Chichiri watched Kate silently as she talked to herself, or rather to something she had with her. When

Kate stood up he sat up completely. As she turned around and faced him her eyes widened, and he

smiled nervously. "Good morning, Kate-chan."

Alatáriël: Dang that chapter was hard to write! ARG! Not to mention I thought it seemed a little... eh.

I'm just not used to writing romance. --;;

Kate: Yeah, I think they know that.

Condor: bark!

Alatáriël: Shut it!... No one asked you! Anyhow, I put a lot of work into this chapter and my mom looked

at me weird when I asked her if she'd ever had a hangover. LOL. Anyway, I'm going to hurry up

and write the reviews! It's been exactly a month since my last up-date!

TheShiningPolaris8: Thank you very much! I do my best.

Morgan: Thanks! I hope you thought this chapie was "sqee" too. Looks around nerviously Great,

now I am making money off this story... Nothing to see here people! coughs Ha ha

maidenofthemist89: Oh! I wouldn't take Hotohori-sama from Lizzie if I were you. And yes, his

hat MUST go. I know! Tasuki's been EVERYWHERE, but laughs I still remember hearing Cosmo's

voice and THINKING it was Tasuki! I almost got whiplash trying to see Tasuki on TV. XD

Your welcome for Tamahome's family. I just couldn't kill them. ;; ... I'm very honored you'd read

this fic if you hate OCs! Glad you find it funny. ;; I try to make it as entertaining as possible.

Yeah, there isn't going to be a lemon between Kate and Chichiri. I just don't like that kind of stuff,

though that doesn't mean there isn't going to be any attraction going on.

Wow! I'm on your favorites now! AHHH! My ego can't take it anymore! Ha ha ha. Thanks a

bunch, and I hope this chappie was to your liking for Chiri/Kate. Ja!

Jedi of Oro: Yes, everything is looking up for the FY group... except for Nakaho, Miboshi, and Soi,

maybe. heh heh. But who cares about them?... ... feels guilty ;; Poor Soi! I kind of don't

hate her... XD Oh well! Anyhow, I still have ALOT in store for our little friends. I'm really looking

forward to the Miboshi and Chiriko chapters! I've been wanting to do those FOREVER. Hope ya

liked this chapter, M! It was interesting to write. Heh.

Chibi Angels: Eh heh heh... I don't know. I just go with the flow. XD I think your wish came true in

this chapter. Heh heh. YES, THERE WILL BE MORE ROMACE and I'll try to put in some more

chibiness. P In the next chapter they'll get to acually talk out their emotions with each other, beware

the chessy romance! Mwa ha ha.

Pil-Z: Thanks. Yeah, I really don't understand Yui that much... I know if I got hurt by some dudes I

wouldn't blaim my best friend! I'd get an uzi and stock those mother-fckers down and show them

what's what! LOL... or even better! Get Chichiri and Tasuki to do my dirty work for me.

Anyhow, I hope you liked this chapter! R&R.

The Fire Youkai Paige: grins Thanks! I hope you liked this chapter too!

Bishiglomper: Sorry! Sorry! I hope this chapter made up for the ending of the last. Gomen ne!

Holly: You're welcome! XD I have to admit I have a soft spot for Angry Chiri. LOL. I just kind of

figured that's how it would work out, ya know? How did I do? As you can see I did go into

the fluff direction. Heh. Yeah, I wanted to save Amiboshi & Suboshi. I really like them... Anyhow,

I'll see ya next chappie!

Queenie: Yes, romance. Heh. Hope you liked this chapter! What do you think? Good? Bad? Ok?

Could have been better or worse?

Erailea Evenstar: Laughs I'm not sure if it's possible to dig a hole like that and stay clean, but I do

know that if your dry in sand it'll fall right off, and they're in the desert. shrugs Thanks! I try.

Laughs I couldn't help but get Chiri mad. He's a guy, they can be quite protective(or so I've heard)!

As for the memory thing... There were several factors. 1:) Physical pain does affect you mentally.

Even more so if you have to bite the bullet. 2:) If some one is doing something that involves great

risk there is a lot of mental strain, which she experienced by running away. 3:) The hope for acually

excaping and getting back to her compainions. All in all it would be very stressful, and she's moving

threw the desert without food. Shrugs I hope you thought this chapter was better than the last.

Ja!

crazyroninchic: Laughs Well, yes. That was a long time ago! Thanks for reviewing! Aren't

Chiri's "no da"s just adorable? Ha ha. I also love Chiri and Tasuki's bad a$$ness just rocks my

socks.

FireStarter911: Yay! Josh has a fangirl! Is overjoyed I'm so glad you like him! LOL. I'm sure his

ego is overjoyed, cause mine sure is. I get crushes on fictional characters too. Heh heh. Though, I've

never had a crush on an OC, however I have grown quite attatched to some. My ego is so big

right now. Ha ha ha! I hope you liked Josh in this chapter too.

Queen of the Fairys: Thanks! I've read New Life, Old Bonds! That's a really good fic. nods... Now

I wanna go read it again. Yes, I'd also love some Chiri and Tasuki V-day cards! XD Sexual tension

make for an interesting read, ne?

Opaaru Tsuki: Maa, maa. It's ok! Just make sure it doesn't happen again. grins Review, darn you!

LOL. Good, I'm glad to hear it's not Mary-Sueish (hopefully this chappie is no different). No, acually

I haven't read much of the new fanfics excapt maybe Colliding Worlds. XD I'll have to go look. Ha ha

you get those Mary-Sues! Ha ha ha, and I'll keep writing mine! Ja

Mistress Manga: Thank you! I hope you like the direction this chappie is going too. Yeah, how

could I let Amiboshi and Suboshi die! What kinda fangirl would I be THEN! LOL. I'm acually

hoping to bring them back into play in the future.

chiri26: Yeah, I loved writting the 4ft hole. áriël: Alright everyone! I'm going to get out of here, cause I really want to get this out! Oh yeah,

I was wondering, would you all like it if I put the last paragraph in every chapter and carry it over to

the next?... Just an idea.

Chichiri: No da!

Kate: See ya! Don't let the review button hit you on the way out!

(PS: Are the chapters coming out weird, ie: spaced out?)

Everyone runs off stage