The trip back to Konan had been uncomfortably quiet. None of the warriors wanted to bring up the things that had been discussed at Taiitsukun's for fear of upsetting Kou. Not that it mattered; Kou's mood steadily deteriorated as the moments passed with nothing to do but dwell miserable. As soon as they had arrived at the palace, she slipped away from the others and promptly locked herself in her room, refusing to come out for anything. That had been seven days ago.

The warriors had each tried to coax the girl out to no avail, despite suggestions that Nuriko just knock the door down, and it seemed everyone was giving up for the time being. They still checked on her as often and brought her food, but decided that she would come out when she was ready to. There was no point in pestering.

Tasuki highly disagreed with that idea. Women, after all, had a knack for overcomplicating everything. That mixed with a seemingly mile-wide stubborn streak led the bandit to believe that someone would have to intervene before this foolishness ended.

He was sitting in the kitchen idly picking at a piece of fish he'd been snacking on when one of the servants walked in with a full platter. Tasuki, as well as the rest of the kitchen staff, looked up as she set the tray down with a sigh.

"Not again" bemoaned the chef as he eyed the untouched food.

"She didn't eat a single bite," the servant confirmed. "At least she took the milk."

Annoyance flooded the flame-haired warrior. He stood with a scowl, shoving his chair away forcefully enough to warrant surprised looks from the staff.

"Master Tasuki?" one of the cooks began to inquire, but the bandit had already stormed out of the kitchen with swift, purposeful strides.

He made his way to Kou's room and reached immediately for the handle. It was locked. "Kou!" he yelled, pounding on the door. "Open up!"

"Go away," was the quiet reply at which Tasuki only pounded harder.

"Get yer ass out over here and open the door!"

"No."

Tasuki growled and landed one last blow to the heavy oak before dropping his hands to sift through his coat. 'Aha,' he thought, pulling out a small box. 'There's more than one way to skin a cat.'

Inside the room, Kou had sat up in her bed when the commotion began. Her hair lay untidily over her shoulders, her clothing wrinkled and unkempt from being slept in. When the pounding stopped, Kou moved to lay back down when another sound caught her attention. It was a small scraping noise, like metal on metal. She was still trying to identify it when there was a solid slick and the door was thrown open.

"Tasuki!" Kou cried out, too surprise to say anything else at the moment. "How-"

"You don't think I could'a become the leader of the most famous bandits in the country without knowin' how ta pick locks, do ya?" Tasuki tucked the wooden container back into his coat.

Kou frowned. "What do you want?" she asked morosely, running a hand through messy burgundy locks almost self-consciously.

"What I want," Tasuki said, crossing his arms, "is for you to stop acting like a spoiled little princess throwing a tantrum. I understand your life kinda sucks right now, but shuttin' yerself up and starvin' ain't gonna help you, and it sure as hell won't get you home."

Kou sat, speechless, fiddling with the hem of her skirt. The passive act only served to fuel Tasuki's growing irritation.

"Hey!" she exclaimed as the bandit seemed to cross the room in a single step and grabbed her by the arm. "What are you doing!"

Pulling her forcefully from the bed, Tasuki barely afforded the girl the scant few seconds it took to slip on her shoes. "Taking you out," he answered as he continued out of the room and into the hall, still holding his reluctant companion firmly.

"Tasuki- Tasuki, stop!" she cried, incredulity mixed with embarrassment as she tugged her captive arm weakly. Being behind the flame-haired fighter, she could not see the smile that arose on his face. "Let go of me!"

'That's more like it,' Tasuki thought, neither releasing his grip nor slowing his pace. "Yeah, right," he scoffed aloud. "Because I really trust you not to try and ditch me if I let go."

Kou continued her hushed protestations as she was dragged out the palace doors and into the heart of the city.

"You ought'a cut that out. You're causing a scene, y'know."

Kou stopped short at Tasuki's words and looked up, suddenly aware of all the people paused in their daily work to stare at the disturbance. Her face flushed hotly, and Tasuki took the opportunity to continue tugging the girl along.

"Where are we going?" Kou asked with a sigh, walking alongside the bandit now. It was obvious she wasn't getting away, so why fight? Besides, walking was certainly preferable to being dragged.

"Somewhere to eat."

"I'm not hungry…"

Tasuki snorted. "Bullshit. You've barely had anything in a week." He glanced back and arched an eyebrow. "Am I gonna have to shove the food down your throat?"

"No!" was the immediate reply. There was little doubt in Kou's mind that Tasuki would do just that if she fought him.

"Good. Here we go." Tasuki pointed at a small hole-in-the-wall tavern-looking site.

"Are you serious? This place is a total dive!"

Tasuki made a face. "Your worshipfulness would prefer somethin' grander, free from low-lives like me?"

"I am not insinuating that this place is beneath me," Kou whispered, a little frustrated.

"Good, 'cause I'll tell ya- it don't look like much, but you won't find much better cookin' in the entire country. Trust me," he said with a tiny wink. At last, he released his hold on Kou's arm as they entered, sitting down at a small table. A burly, gruff-looking man lumbered over to them. Kou stiffened at the approach, but Tasuki merely leaned back in his chair, waving a hand discreetly as if brushing off the girl's apprehension. The man stared hard at the two for a few moments before shuffling away without a single word spoken.

Hazel eyes darted between the retreating stranger and the apparently amused bandit. "What was that all about?" asked Kou, completely bewildered. Tasuki seemed to be enjoying her confusion.

"I forgot to tell you about this place's hidden charm. Ya never order, ever. That guy's the cook, an' I'll never know how he does it, but he figures out exactly what to make a person just by seeing 'em."

There was a pause.

"Don't look at me like that!" Tasuki growled. "I'm serious. You won't be disappointed."

A light frown touched to Corey's lips, eyes studying her companion with uncertain scrutiny. "I better not be. Considering you kidnapped me, I expect you to treat your hostage well."



"So then- then he looks at me and says, 'Genrou, this one's eating my udon.'" Tasuki let out a raucous laugh that he'd been trying to contain during the entire story. Snorting into her sake, Kou giggled as well, shaking her head.

"Outrageous," Kou murmured upon downing the drink. "I have to meet this Koji guy someday." She paused. "This was great, Tasuki. It really was. I can't believe he made me butterfly shrimp, I haven't had it in ages."

The bandit winked. "Eh, didn't I tell ya? Exactly what ya want. Though, no matter how many times I come here, he'll never make that for me. I don't know what it is…"

"Maybe you just don't want it enough," Kou replied slyly, refilling her sake dish. Tasuki made a face at her.

"I gotta hit the can," he announced as he stood, but paused mid-way. "You're not gonna run out on me, are ya?"

"No way. I'm… really having a good time. Go on, I'll be right here when you get back."

Tasuki eyed the redhead for a few moments, and then finally walked away from the table, disappearing behind a curtain. The moment he was out of sight, Kou bolted for the door.



'You lied to him.'

'Yeah, but… but he brought me out here against my will!'

'You still lied to him.'

Kou growled softly to herself, fighting the urge to smack her forehead. It probably wouldn't silence her conscience and would only make the people around her think she was crazy. Instead, she tried to distract herself with her surroundings; the busy marketplace was certainly full of things to do that with. There were so many smells, so many colors and people and things. Certainly it would be enough to stop her from thinking about Tasuki.

'…he's going to be mad when he finds you.'

Maybe it wasn't enough after all. Kou sighed softly, running a hand through her hair. What did she have to feel guilty for? Tasuki brought this all on himself. He wanted to get her out, well now she was out. Satisfied, at least on the surface, by that justification, Kou let her worry go. With a smile, she bent to look at an array of baubles displayed on a table. She had just begun to reach for a jeweled necklace when something slammed into her, knocking her to the ground.

"Hey!" she screamed, a jolt of pain flashing through her tailbone.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" A pair of shockingly blue eyes peered through long blonde locks at the girl on the floor. Kou was stunned silent by the beautiful stranger. "Let me help you," he murmured sheepishly, leaning to pick the girl up. On her feet, Kou brushed herself off absently, still a little flustered. The way he was looking at her was making her blush, and she dropped her head to try hiding her embarrassment. "Are you okay?"

"I… uh, y- yeah, I'm… It wasn't really… You just… I'm fine." Kou mentally winced. 'Oh, yeah, that didn't sound at all pathetic.'

"Good." The beautiful stranger's voice brought Kou's eyes back to his face, where a small smile alighted his features. "Sorry again," he said as he let go of the redhead and stepped away.

Kou watched him leave, still dumbstruck by the encounter. She had seen those eyes before… but where? Surely she never would have forgotten him, had they met prior to this. Curiosity picked at her until finally she gave in and set out in the direction the stranger had gone.

The search turned out to be a short one. Rounding the corner behind which the mystery man had vanished, Kou could see no evidence of him. There was only a small group of men chatting amongst themselves. Kou approached them.

"Excuse me." All eyes turned to her and the conversation died. "Sorry to bother you, but did you see a man with blond hair and blue eyes come through here?"

"Yeah," one of them said with a nod. "Went by just a minute ago."

"Did you see where he went?"

The same man who'd spoken cracked a grin. "You look a little young to be chasing after strange men."

"Did you see where he went or not?" Kou snapped, not wanting to lose any more time.

"Sure, sure, don't get upset. Follow me." He pushed away from the wall and started casually down the street. "So, what's a pretty girl like you doing all by herself?" Kou arched a suspicious eyebrow, and the man smiled nervously. "I'm not gonna pull anything, I'm just curious."

"Escaping my babysitter."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"I… I don't know." Kou bit her lip as the guilt from earlier came eking back. She had no time to say anything else before she felt something large and heavy connect with the back of her skull.

The resounding crack barely met her ears as blinding pain sent Kou sprawling to the ground. In an agonizing daze, but still conscious, she lolled her head up long enough to look at her guide and the man holding a thick wooden beam now standing beside him. Through the roaring in her ears and the spots that danced before her unfocussed eyes, she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

"I said I wasn't going to pull anything," the man she had followed smiled nonchalantly as he leered down at her. "I didn't say anything about my friend here."

"I hope I didn't hit her too hard. I know the boss asked us not to hurt her."

It was a trap, Kou managed to realize. As the world began to fade around her, she saw a familiar face emerging behind her attackers, though she couldn't understand why he was there. "Tasuki…?"

The two must have thought their target was delirious, for neither turned at the redhead's confused mutter. It wasn't until an unknown voice asked, "Said not to hurt who, now?" that the men whipped around.

Tasuki's eyes burned with outrage, and the two thugs staggered back a couple steps at the intense expression. The man with the beam raised his weapon…

…And the fight was over before it even started as Tasuki tapped into his preternatural speed, taking out both men in a single movement. Normally, this would have been the time the bandit would start gloating smugly over his easy victory. Now… the sight of the red-haired girl lying on the ground, bordering unconsciousness, made him a little sick.

The warrior dropped to his knees and gently slid his arms beneath Kou's head and back to pull her upright. His brow furrowed when his hand touched something wet and sticky matted in the girl's hair. When Tasuki pulled his hand back, the sickness intensified at the sight of blood smeared across his digits.

"Shit," he breathed. "Kou? Kou, open your eyes." To his amazement, she did just that. Glazed, confused hazel orbs stared half-lidded into smoldering amber. "Damn stupid kid, what the hell were you thinking?" Tasuki's voice was quiet, almost tender, as he scooped the body into his arms. Kou's eyes fluttered and rolled back, her entire form going flaccid.

"Kou?" Tasuki shook her lightly. "Kou…!" She gave no response. Worry flooded the flame-haired fighter as he began racing back toward the palace. 'If you get through this all right,' he thought idly as he ran, 'I swear to Suzaku I'm gonna kill ya.'



The first thing Kou was aware of as she came to was the way her head throbbed perfectly in time with her heartbeat. She groaned; it had to be the worst headache she'd ever had in her life. 'And me without my motrin,' she thought miserably, sitting up with a heavy, vocal lament.

A hand offered Kou a cup of what smelled like mint tea, and she took it gratefully. After a few sips, she looked up; it was Tasuki.

Shit.

"Feel better?" he asked softly.

"If by 'better' you mean feeling like my head got trampled by every man, woman, child and beast in the country, then yes," Kou answered flatly.

"Why'd ya do it?" This time, Kou had no response. "Why'd you run away?" he pressed.

"I don't know…"

"Well, of course you know! You're the only one who does know! I thought we were doin' all right, and then you just bail like that. You gotta have a reason."

"I don't know-"

"Dammit, Kou!" Tasuki stood up and threw his chair to the side.

"You were the one who came in here and dragged me out to town!" yelled Kou, ignoring the searing pain in her brain for the time being.

"You were killing yourself. I had to do something instead of standing by and watching you waste away."

"I wasn't going to die, Tasuki, I just don't eat when I'm stressed, and I like to be left alone. I would have been fine."

"But you weren't fine. You weren't fine when I took you out or when I brought you back."

"If you hadn't forced me to go with you, I wouldn't have been hurt in the first place, so don't go there."

"You wouldn'ta been hurt in the first place if you'd stayed put like ya promised to!"

Kou opened her mouth to respond and promptly closed it again when her mind failed to provide another sharp comeback.

"And here we are, back at the original question," Tasuki growled. "Why?"

"Maybe being around you is nothing but an ugly reminder that I'm stuck here, like having me around reminded you all that Miaka is dead and gone."

"But we didn't hold that against you. That's not your fault; you're not Miaka."

"That's right," Kou started mockingly. "I'm nothing like her."

Tasuki glared darkly at the redhead, who stared back defiantly. The sound of a throat clearing drew both of their attention to the doorway where Nuriko stood looking slightly embarrassed.

"Thank God you're here," Kou sighed.

Nuriko blinked confusedly and looked at Tasuki. "What did you do?"

"Me! She-" Tasuki pointed an accusing finger at Kou- "is impossible!"

A grin split Nuriko's features. "Could it be?" he mused wistfully, tapping his chin in wonder. "A hidden attraction?"

Both of the others stared aghast at the words. Kou broke the silence first. "Attraction? To him! You've got to be joking."

"You're both impossible," Tasuki growled as he turned to leave. "I've had enough. You deal with her, I'm outta here." In the hallway, he tossed one last narrow-eyed glance toward Kou's room. "Attraction! Ridiculous."

Back inside the girls' quarters, Nuriko picked up the displaced chair and set down the tray of snacks he'd brought on the nightstand and sat.

"Sorry to have interrupted your lover's quarrel, but I had to bring you something to eat. Doctor's orders, you know, so you better scarf it all down if you don't want Mitsukake yelling at you."

Kou rolled her eyes dramatically and reached over for the bowl of rice beside her. "Oh, Nuriko, be serious- I can't stand the guy. How could you even think to call it a- What! She asked finally, irked by the constant humored expression plastered on Nuriko's face.

"Nothing," he answered and sipped at a teacup to hide his smile.



"I mean, the nerve of that girl!" Tasuki snarled as he threw another rock into the pond Chichiri had been meditating at. The ripples smeared the colors reflected in the water, making everything indiscernible. The sight struck Tasuki as being like his life; one big, jumbled mess. He turned away. "After everything I did, and she just throws my words back in my face like this is all my fault somehow."

Chichiri listened intently, nodding his head occasionally. For a minute or two, he sat in silence, contemplating. Finally the monk looked up to his friend (who had been too wound-up to sit).

"Tasuki, why does this bother you so much?"

"Because I-" The bandit stopped short when the words didn't come. "Well, I-" he tried again, frowning darkly at the other's little smile. "You've been talking to Nuriko, haven't you?"

Chichiri just laughed.



tbc…

Author's Note: Mwahaha! Nine chapters to get even a hint of romantic interest. This must be a record. Anyway, I feel like I'm really behind in submitting chapters. I've got two more completed, and have started on another. Getting time on the computer has become difficult, to say the least, so I will do my best to get the continuation of this story up as soon as possible. Seeing as how I'm currently at work on chapter twelve and have just now managed to scratch the surface of the story, this is going to be monstrously huge. Sorry.

On a side note, I found my old account, and will be transferring my old stories to this account (after some heavy editing- after all, I have improved a little bit over the last three plus years) in case anyone wants to give my other stories a chance. If any of you who are interested don't want to have to bother checking, I'll put an alert in the A.N. of a future chapter of this story after the transfer is complete.