Disclaimer: I do not own all the FY characters present in this fic. I do own Reiko, Ryo, Kaishi and all those unfamiliar names that do not ring a bell to your ears. lol.

Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated for the past couple of days. I've been sick and so I couldn't get myself to update. A thousand apologies to whoever out there who has been waiting for a new chapter. If there is anybody. haha. yeah. here goes.

Chapter Fourteen: Of kisses and personal failures

Reiko excused herself from Tasuki. She didn't want him to see her cry. Most of all, she didn't want him to know what she had Seen. She went off her own way, anywhere was fine with her as long as she could be alone. Reiko sat at the foot of the stairs leading to the fountain. None of the others came through this way. Here, Reiko let her tears fall. She clasped her hands over her mouth, not wanting to make any noise. She didn't want anybody to find her. The tears flowed over her healed fingers and she could hardly breathe amidst the sobbing.

What was it that she saw? Did he really die or did he just fell unconcious? But the blood, his blood. He was dying, she Saw it. He whispered to her something, and in the vision she heard. But Reiko had not heard. She only saw his bloodstained lips speak to her before they kissed, before he shut his eyes. He died. But why?

It seemed like ages since Reiko sat there. She wasn't sure how to react. She was still confused over her feelings for Tasuki. I don't love Tasuki, she lied to herself. She knew she was very fond of him, but this fondness was more like how a sister would love a brother, nothing more. Even if she succumbed to the fact that perhaps she did love Tasuki, she was sure it would have been one-sided. Tasuki had openly expressed his hatred for women. Reiko knew that Tasuki didn't hate her, but he did not love her either. Then why the kiss?

Maybe Tasuki would grow to love her. That was the last Reiko wanted. Seeing what she Saw, she realised the hopelessness there was in ever loving each other. She decided then, the two of them can never have feelings for each other, it would only end up as she had Seen. It was like was Taiisu-kun said: The future can be altered by the slightest changes in the direction of any one person's life. The future is ever changing... from your every step and every breath.

She could change the ending, Tasuki would not have to die. She would have to See again, to See what brought about his death. In doing so, she could prevent it. But she would have to wait till the time was right.

Taiitsu-kun had resumed their training and she posed more challenging tasks for Reiko. Reiko was still very determined so eventually, she got the hang of things. However, her heart was still being weighed down by a heavy burden.

"Child," Tasiitsu-kun had noticed. "What is it that burdens you?"

"Nothing, Taiitsu-kun," Reiko lied. "I'm just tired." She would not let Taiitsu-kun know. This must be why Taiitsu-kun had not let Tasuki be tested on.

"Then we shall rest for the day," Taiitsu-kun told her. Reiko nodded once.

She had to think of something to get closer to Tasuki.

"Gen-chan," Reiko found the perfect excuse. "Remember you told me you could teach me to fight when my hands are healed?"

"Yeah," Tasuki answered. "Ya want me to teach you now? Thot' you were tired."

"Exercising the mind is different from exercising the body."

"Alright alright, ya brought your sword?"

"Yeah, it's with Ryo."

"Well, go get it kid." Reiko went off.

Tasuki stood with his arms crossed. He smiled. Reiko had always made him feel different. He liked this new feeling, and he was glad Reiko was around. He had grown to be fond of her biting her lip when she was going to cry. And the way she smiled at him at times. I love her, he told himself. But he came to the reality that a mountain bandit and a princess could never love each other more than that. And why would a Princess ever have feelings for him? She probably treated him like a brother, or like Ryo, right? But somehow Tasuki knew Reiko didn't just feel about him that way.

As Reiko walked back, Tasuki noticed a difference in her. She seemed sadder, with more sorrow, a terrible burden upon her back. She smiled at him with the katana in her hands. Tasuki did not dwell more on the thought.

"Alright," Tasuki examined the katana. "Light, good grip. Overall a great sword." He took Reiko's hands and put them around the handle. "Ya hafta be comfortable with yer grip on the sword."

Reiko held it, a surge of pride went through her. My family's sword, she said to herself.

Tasuki taught her various attack stances and parry positions. Reiko had never held a sword in that way before but the movements and the positions just came naturally to her. She could feel energy from herself flowing into the weapon. It was almost as if it had become a part of her.

"I'm impressed kid," Tasuki smiled. "Yer a natural at this." Reiko blushed and said nothing. "You should go rest though. Right now your Seeing training is more important than this."

"But Genchan," Reiko wanted to protest.

"No buts Reiko. Both you and I know which is more important right now. Go on, get some rest." Tasuki put his hands in his pockets. "I wouldn't want you to fall sick cos this is all too exhausting for you." Reiko pointed the sword towards the floor as Tasuki inched closer to her.

"I'm alright, really," Reiko assured him. Tasuki still stepped towards her.

"Promise me you'll take care of yourself?" He touched her cheek and she blushed. His face came closer to hers. Then he kissed her. For a moment, she kissed him back. Then she pulled back suddenly.

"Gen-chan," Reiko backed away. "I-" She didn't know what to say. "You're right, I need rest." She walked away without saying anything else.

Tasuki too was lost for words.

"I shouldn't have done that." He smacked his forehead. "Now she'll think I'm really some sort of pervert and she'll never talk to me again."

"Real smooth Fang-boy," Kaishi came out from behind a pillar and walked to him.

"How long have you been hiding there?" Tasuki tried to control his temper.

"Way before the snogging." Kaishi smirked.

"I did NOT snog her."

"Yeah, whatever. Why the long face though?"

"None of your bloody damn business."

"Hey hey, just trying to help."

"I don't need your help." Tasuki glared at him.

"Alright alright, I'll leave you alone before you take that fan of yours and burn me to death." Kaishi turned and walked away. "Just don't see what's with the long face really. She likes you, you know, no matter what you think."

Tasuki turned to face him. But Kaishi was still walking away, his back facing Tasuki. "How would you know?"

"Nothing really. Except that when I talk to her all she seems to be able to talk about is you. Gen-chan this, Gen-chan that. Sweet. Just talk it out with her. She's still a kid. You know that right, you call her kid all the time."

Tasuki wanted to ask Kaishi what Reiko said about him but he had walked too far off already.

"Great," Tasuki said to himself. "I just have to talk it out with her. He made it sound so easy. She's still a kid," Tasuki made an extremely exaggerated imitation of Kaishi. "Like he's any older than her. Git."

Tasuki crossed his arms and sighed. "But I guess he is right. I'll have to apologize to Reiko for kissing her so suddenly. But what the hell did he mean that she likes me no matter what I think. What does he know of what I think?!"

"Keep your voice down unless you want the rest to know your personal failures, no da." Chichiri was floating in mid air with his legs crossed. Tasuki fell backwards in shock.

"Can you people stop appearing on me like that!?"

"Sorry, no da. It's a habit." Chichiri said sheepishly. "So what's all the shouting about?"

"I wasn't shouting."

"Hmm, you were screaming "What does he know of what I think" at the top of your lungs, but that's now called shouting, no da"

"How much have you heard?" Tasuki narrowed his eyes.

"Doesn't matter no da. What matters is how you're gonna fix the problem. Everyone else here seems to know Reiko DOES like you, and you DO like her, except for yourself, no da"

"She doesn't like me, Chichiri."

Chichiri ignored him. "I can see it. when she talks to you, or when she sees you, her eyes light up in a certain way, no da. And Kaishi wasn't lying when he said all she ever talks about is you. And why do you think Ryo's been such a jerk to you, no da?"

"Ryo hasn't been a jerk. He's been a bloody hell repulsive idiotic f-"

"It's because he used to be the only man Reiko put her attention on before you came along." Chichiri cut Tasuki off. "Cool down a bit no da, then go talk to her." With a poof Chichiri vanished.

"Great, so now everyone else knows my personal life better than myself." He looked around furtively. "Better make sure nobody else sneaks up on me to lecture me about my personal failures."

Tasuki walked off slowly, thinking through and through what he should say to Reiko.

HEYYYYYYYYYO. Back after ages. Really sorry about it. My coms still not fixed an im using the phone line and my aunt's laptop to finish this chapter. A real lousy ending but im really sorry. I can't get my hands on anything else more regularly to update this. Anyhooo, reviews please?