A/N: ZOMG! I'm so happy! I LOVED writing this chapter, cause, it was alot of work! But Gregory and Samara were really cooperative tonight! Thank you so much! And by the way, if you're wondering who Samara and Gregory are, well, Samara is my evil demon half, out to destroy the world, and Gregory is a vampire boy who LOVES lazying around. Anyway, enjoy.

I do NOT own Tasuki, Chichiri, or any other Fushigi Yuugi Chaire used in this chapter, Yuu Watase does! I DO own Karma and Daichi though, so please ask me before you use them.

The Eighteenth Birthday -2-

Genro, now known as Tasuki to the people around him, enjoyed his new companions. Sure, he missed Koji a lot, but this group was a riot. There was Tamahome, the money hog and probably the most perverted of the group; Miaka his girl friend was nice, but annoying and just hungry in general; the valiant Hotohori who was in love with himself, but also had an unrequited love for Miaka; Nuriko the preppy cross dresser who loved acting innocent; the big and silent Mitsukake; the young but studious kid Chiriko; and finally Chichiri, the oldest of the group and probably the best at calming them, or was it just him?

Tasuki had been traveling with them all for quite some time and had gotten close to most of them. Tamahome, Nuriko, and Chichiri were his close friends, and Chiriko and Miaka were like siblings to him.

Tasuki actually loved Miaka, but knew he would never have her heart, so he instead acted as an older brother to her. Accepting it was probably the hardest for the red head, so what else would he do then turn to his close friend Chichiri? If he went to Nuriko, he'd be laughed at, and if he went to Tamahome, well, he didn't want to think about it.

Tasuki walked through the courtyard, grumbling angrily before he noticed a familiar blunette fishing in the stream that ran through. "Don't ya know that there aren't any fish in there?" Tasuki said smugly, quickly taking the space next to Chichiri before he could refuse the company.

"I don't fish for the fish, ya know?" Chichiri commented back, not moving his gaze to look at the red head.

"Then what's the point?" Tasuki inquired, leaning back, using his arms as support.

"Helps to calm and relax the spirit, you should try it ya know?" Chichiri said, now glancing at the red head.

"Ch, like I'd be interested in something as boring as fishing." Tasuki said scruffily, watching where the line disappeared into the water.

"What is it you want to talk to me about na no da?"

"What makes you think I want to talk to you about something!"

"You just said fishing was boring, so why else would to be sitting here watching me fish if you didn't want to talk to me about something ya know?"

Tasuki went to say something but stopped, glaring at the monk. "Shut up…"

As they sat there, the breeze picked up, blowing a few leaves from a tree near by and landing them in the stream. The stream would carry these leaves on forever. Tasuki relaxed and soon laid back. He could see why Chichiri found this relaxing, but it was more relaxing for Tasuki to just lay there and watch.

"Do you like Miaka?" Tasuki suddenly asked, now that he was comfortable.

"As a younger sister ya know?" Chichiri said without hesitance. "Though I understand why Hotohori and Tamahome do. She's a caring girl and her attitude is infectious, ya know?"

Tasuki grumbled lightly. "Yea, I know."

"She holds the image of what most want, but only one gets, her perfect mate." Chichiri said, surprising Tasuki when he didn't mutter a 'Ya know' or a 'no da' at the end of his sentence.

(1)"Where do you come up with this stuff?"

"Common Knowledge ya know?"

"Yea, common knowledge." Tasuki muttered before looking over at the other's face. 'His face sure doesn't show knowledge.'

"Anything else you wish to speak about na no da?"

"Yea, what's up with your face?"

"Excuse me na no da?"

"Yea, Miaka and Tamahome said they've seen under it before, let me see too!"

"When the time is right ya know?"

"When will that be?"

"When I say so ya know?"

"Gah!" Tasuki said in exasperation, kicking his legs. "I hate waiting!"

"That's not gonna change my mind ya know?"

XXXXXXXXX

After that day, Tasuki tried to learn more about this blunette, getting just tid-bits of information each day. He liked waking up and kind of following Chichiri wherever he went throughout the day, like a lost puppy. Chichiri took notice of Tasuki's actions and kind of stressed at them, and the others couldn't help but look on and chuckle.

Sometimes they caught Chichiri purposely avoiding Tasuki; sometimes he even resorted to disappearing into his kasa.

After a few weeks though, Chichiri just managed to get use to the red head walking at his side most of the day, and often worried if something was wrong with Tasuki when he wasn't following him.

On these occasions, Chichiri actually sought the other out, so they were actually stalking each other now, but no one noticed Chichiri stalking Tasuki, since Chichiri always made it seem like he 'accidentally' bumped into the red head.

To tie this up, they naturally enjoyed each other's company, and eventually, Tasuki had forgotten the reason why he had been stalking the monk in the first place. It had just become his routine, and he was happy with it.

The breeze blew softly, ruffling Tasuki's red locks as he laid beside the monk who was once again fishing in his favorite spot.

"When's your birthday?" Tasuki asked with a yawn, just wanting to bring up the subject.

"May 21st." Chichiri answered, not taking his eyes off the water.

"Interesting, mine's April 18th."

"Really? It's already coming up so fast ya know? Maybe we could get some-"

"Don't bother; I hate parties thrown for me." Tasuki commented. "It makes me feel awkward."

Chichiri frowned down at Tasuki but said nothing more as he turned back to the stream.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Dai, this is NOT good! He's going to be eighteen in only a few weeks! He doesn't know what he is! He's going to die!" Karma stressed, pacing back and forth in front of her tired husband.

"Love, don't worry. I'm sure things will work out." He commented sleepily, tightening the robe that threatened to slide off his shoulders.

"No, they won't! He has no idea who he is, why didn't we leave that in his note! We could have saved a lot of trouble!" Karma worried, not caring that her satin robe was open. It was only three in the day time, a time when Daichi liked to be getting his sleep, but was always kept awake by his ever worrying wife Karmella, or better known as Karma.

Daichi grabbed his wife by the wrist and brought her to him, hugging her close. "Love, trust me, if he's your son he'll find out a way to work things out."

Karma sighed and nuzzled into her husband's arms. "You're right, I just need to calm. I still wish to find him a feeder."

"How about that hyper active girl whom he travels with?" Daichi suggested.

"No, she has already found her life mate." Karma stated, before suddenly getting an idea. "Genro seems to favor the monk."

"You mean the man with the blue hair?"

"Yea, I've been watching them chase each other around for awhile now. It's kind of cute." She stated, smirking.

"So you want his human mate to be a male monk?"

"Why not?" Karma asked, glaring slightly at her husband.

"Ah, it's a great idea honey!" Daichi said quickly, knowing that it was best not to get on his wife's bad side.

"So then it's decided, I'll go speak to this monk tonight." Karma said, smirking.

(1) Parody of this scene.
"Where do you come up with this stuff?"

"Fortune cookies!"

"Of course..."