The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story

By KittyLynne

(All rights to Fushigi Yuugi and its characters belong to Yuu Watase/Shogakukan Shoujo Comics/TV Tokyo/ Studio Pierrot / Pioneer Entertainment.)

Author's Notes: Chapter Rating: 14+ for language and innuendo. Major spoilers for second OVA. Italics denote a character's unspoken thoughts.

Chapter 14-Friend or Foe?

"Sis!"

"Keisuke!"

Tasuki watched as a light brown-haired young man stepped forward and wrapped up the Priestess of Suzaki in a fierce hug. Even without the greeting, his strong resemblance to Miaka proclaimed the man's identity.

This is the brother who summoned Chichiri and me to this world to battle Nakago. Seems like yesterday, but it's been years. Kinda funny we came back with the same backpack as then...

Thinking of the backpack reminded him of the load still strapped to his shoulders. Carefully divesting himself of it, he set the bag and the still concealed Chichiri upon the floor, all the while watching and listening to the exchange of conversation between the Yuuki siblings.

"I was worried you wouldn't make it back here!" Keisuke was saying.

Miaka's face reddened under his stare, but she gave a soft hoot of amusement. "Come on! After all I've lived through, do you think Suzaku is going to let anything else happen to me?"

"I would hope not!" Her brother said gruffly. "But Suzaku can get a new priestess! You're the only little sister I've got!"

Tasuki turned away, not wanting anyone to see that his eyes had moistened with empathy. Even if th' guy opposes what Mi-chan wants t' do, it's only because he cares so much. Can't get angry about him wantin' the best for her, since I feel th' same way.

Miaka gently disengaged herself from her brother's embrace. "Right now I have introductions to make. We'll talk about what's happened later, okay?"

"But-"

"Keisuke-kun, please!"

"Oh all right! Later!"

As her brother gave his reluctant agreement, Miaka glanced around for Tasuki, who had relegated himself to the background. A strong surge of protectiveness welled within her at seeing him standing off by himself. After catching his eye, she reached out in a mute request for his hand; after the slightest of hesitations he took it, allowing himself to be tugged over to her side.

Smiling up at him, she curled her other arm around his and held it possessively close, making it clear to their onlookers that the seishi of fire held a very special place in her heart.

"Keisuke, Yui, Tetsuya, " she announced proudly, "I'd like to introduce you to Tasuki, a Celestial Warrior of Suzaku...and the bravest, most chivalrous man you'll ever meet!"

Keisuke Yuuki's apprehensions increased tenfold at seeing the exchange of glances between the priestess and her protector. It was a look he knew all too well, a look that made it very clear that Miaka had fallen hard for Tasuki, and vice versa. 'I don't understand how this could happen! Doesn't she remember that Taka is real, and this guy's still a character in the damn book?'

That issue aside, he had to admit he was excited to be meeting another one of Miaka's legendary guardians face to face. Tasuki was an impressive specimen of human physiology, as well as an prime example of the old adage that you couldn't judge a book by its cover. While reading about his antics the book, it had been apparent to Keisuke that despite the bandit's macho attitude, foul mouth and flashy behavior, he was really a decent and pretty nice guy. And no matter how he felt about the book and his sister's recent development with Tasuki, he couldn't overlook the fact that this warrior had defended Miaka's life at great risk to his own existence.

For that, the Yuuki family owed him a debt that could never be repaid.

"Yoo hoo! Keisuke! Planet Earth to big brother!"

Realizing that everyone had been waiting for him to acknowledge the introduction, Keisuke blushed. "Ah! Sorry!" Clasping his hands, he made a deep bow. "It's a great honor to meet you, Tasuki-sama. I wish I had a suitable reward for all you've done, but there's not enough money on earth to repay you. All I can do is to thank you for protecting my sister, and for coming here to help save our world."

The seishi's fangs were in full evidence as he grinned. "Forget all that 'sama' stuff an' call me Tasuki!" He declared, as he acknowledged his host's bow. "Sayin' thanks is enough for me, but I can't take th' credit for savin' your world. Tamahome and Miaka were the ones who did that by usin' the power of their love."

Keisuke's lips parted in astonishment. Whatever he may have expected to hear from Taka's most dangerous rival, it certainly hadn't included an admission like that!

Given the circumstances, it would have been understandable if Tasuki had completely avoided the subject of Miaka and Taka and their love for each other. Instead, he had chosen to commend them for it with a sincerity that couldn't be faked.

'Gotta hand it to him. It's damn near impossible not to respect a guy who thinks that way. He's got class, even if he was a bandit.'

"You're being far too modest, Tasuki." He said aloud. "You played a pretty big part in all of that!"

"That's what I've been saying!" Miaka chimed in. "Without Tasuki and the others, Taka and I couldn't have done it!"

The ex-bandit shook his head. "Nothin' doin', Mi-chan! If th' two of you hadn't been willin' to sacrifice yourselves-"

A deep yelp cut off the good-natured disagreement.

As three heads turned to its source, Keisuke goggled in amazement, and Miaka and Tasuki broke into wide grins. Tetsuya, his shades knocked wildly askew, was clinging frantically to the startled-looking former Priestess of Seiryu, and pointing a shaking, accusatory finger at the gnome-size figure that had just popped out of Miaka's backpack.

"What the h-hell is that?" He sputtered, cringing as it floated and danced above their heads. "Some loony kind of flying squirrel?"

"I'm not a squirrel, you know!" The imp complained, amidst a sparkling and athletic series of twirls. "Why does everyone always say that?"

"Oh I see," Yui began, comprehension dawning in her large blue eyes. "This must be Chi-"

"MY GOD, IT CAN TALK!" Tetsuya bellowed, rudely interrupting his ladylove. Seeing the chibified monk waving his shakajou in what he misinterpreted as a threatening manner, he immediately stepped in front of Yui, and clenched his fists. "Don't be scared, sweetheart! I won't let it get you!"

Miaka exchanged an amused look with Yui, who was now peeking over her would-be protector's shoulder. "Tetsuya, there's no need to freak out! Chichiri's one of my warriors, and transfiguration happens to be a special technique of his."

"Pleased to meet you, you know!" The mage seishi said, resuming his normal size in the blink of an eye. "It's also nice to see you again, Priestess of Seiryu." He added, with a friendly nod to his former nemesis.

"And I'm very happy to see you, Chichiri-sama." Yui replied quietly. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd much prefer it if you'd address me by my first name."

Chichiri looked surprised, and then smiled. "I would be honored to do so, but only if you'll drop the 'sama' after mine."

She smiled back. "It's a deal. Thank you, Chichiri."

"My pleasure, Yui."

"How did you learn to defy gravity like that, man?" Tetsuya broke in. Rampant curiosity had overridden his manners, and admiration had rid him of any suspicion regarding the masked seishi.

"Trial and error, mostly." The monk answered him cheerily. "The rest I'm not allowed to tell you. Trade secrets, you know."

Tetsuya looked disappointed, but didn't press the issue. "I apologize for calling you a flying squirrel, Chichiri-sama." He said, with a low bow. "I hope you won't hold it against me."

"It's just Chichiri, and there's no need for an apology, you know. It was an honest mistake, and besides... " The mage paused to cast a wry, sidelong glance at Tasuki, who was shaking with not-quite-silent laughter, "...it's not the first time I've been told I resemble that particular rodent!" Shrugging, he added, "But it's all good. As long as Miaka thinks I'm cute that way, I'm happy, you know?"

The redhead's snickering came to an abrupt halt. Chichiri couldn't help smirking at seeing the jealous glare that was directed his way. Even if they weren't in competition, it was rather gratifying to be considered as a possible rival for their priestess' affections. "And what are you looking so happy about, Tasuki?"

Amber eyes shot sparks. "You know what!"

"If I did, I wouldn't be asking, you know!"

As a stare down commenced, Tetsuya intervened. Miaka had often reminisced about Tasuki's usual response to this kind of teasing, and as much as he would have liked a view of the tessen, he was loath to have to explain any resulting scorch marks to the landlord. "Um...h-hey guys...Miaka isn't going to like it if you get into an argument."

The reminder had both celestial warriors darting guilty looks at their priestess. To their mutual relief, Miaka was having a conversation with Yui and had completely missed the exchange.

As the monk turned his attention back to Tetsuya and the two men began to chat, Tasuki continued to watch the two young women, who were gesturing animatedly and chatting in undertones. Several times he noticed them glance his way, and he wondered what Yui could possibly be saying that was making Miaka turn as red as the peonies in Taiits-kun's garden.

"We might as well get comfortable-once those two get going no one can get a word in edgewise!" Keisuke advised, with a nod at the women. "We have plenty of drinkables on hand. Can I get you guys something?"

Chichiri politely declined, but Tasuki was thirsty and gratefully accepted the offer of a beer, even though he wasn't sure exactly what it was.

As Keisuke headed off to the kitchen and Chichiri and Tetsuya made small talk, the ex-bandit took the chance to cast a curious glance around the dwelling that Miaka had referred to as an 'apartment'.

Strange, uncomfortable looking furniture made of substances unknown to him dominated the room in which they were standing. From where he was he could see an adjoining room with cupboards, a shiny box with two doors, and counters that held a few dirty dishes, and gadgets that seemed to be designated for some sort of food preparation. He wondered briefly how they started a cooking fire, and where in this world they got their water. Perhaps that long metal handle sticking up was a pump of some sort? There was also a hallway next to the tiled room, which he assumed might lead to the sleeping quarters, and hopefully some sort of latrine was down there as well, since he had no idea where he was going to go when he had to relieve himself.

He turned to look out the large window behind him, weighing the possibilities. The scope of the view outside told him they were quite high off the ground, but somehow he doubted that the men in this city would urinate out the windows of large houses here, unlike the residents in Konan's larger towns. Visitors to the city learned very quickly that it wasn't wise to walk directly under a window with open shutters. The ex-bandit smirked at the thought, and then made a mental note to ask Miaka where their latrine was located.

It was strange to think that he actually felt comfortable in asking her about such a personal thing. Then again…he had always appreciated how Miaka could explain things to him without making him feel like an idiot. That quality was also something that made her very different from most of the women he knew. His sisters, for example, had always ridiculed him for asking them questions, whether they be personal or very general ones. 'Never mind, get back to work', was the standard response he'd gotten, often followed by something being thrown at him.

His parents had been no better, since they had kept him out of school since he'd been old enough to help on the farm. There was no need for him to go, they had said. His father would teach him all about plants and animal husbandry, and his mother could teach him enough writing, reading and figuring to get by in the marketplace, so what more did he need?

This, of course, made him want to learn that much more. He had actually been punished several times for ditching his chores and running to the village school, where he would lurk beneath the windows, trying to listen in on the lessons.

Ironically, it had taken becoming a bandit to get an opportunity for a more extensive education. As luck would have it, one of the older bandits residing at Reikaku was a former tutor who still liked to keep up on scholarly pursuits, and had schooled the young recruit with the Leader's full approval. Thanks to Wufei's excellent teaching he wasn't just adequate, but highly skilled in reading and writing. He had studied astronomy and alchemy, and could do fairly complex calculations. He'd even gotten some background in poetry and music, which he had scoffed at the time, but had ended up proving useful during his stays at the Imperial palace.

School hadn't been nearly as fun when it was required, though. He'd bitched about his sessions with Wufei at first, mainly because of wanting to have fun hanging out with Kouji, or to going out on raids with the others, but now he was truly grateful that Hakarou had insisted that he take the time to study. Because of his old Boss' foresight, he hadn't been a total embarrassment at the Imperial court...or to Miaka, who, despite his past jokes to the contrary, was obviously educated.

And she was still going to school-at a university no less! How the hell was he going to keep up with her on that level? Even though they were great together in a physical way, there was a better than good chance that Miaka might find him too stupid and his way of life too simple to want to stick with him for an entire lifetime. He had a gut feeling that Keisuke would do his best to point that out, along with other things, as a good elder brother should.

Tasuki sighed. The odds of his and Miaka's staying together seemed a whole lot less in his favor after seeing where she lived. Shit, there were so many fantastic inventions here she'd have to learn to do without. Even worse was knowing that he'd be taking her away from her brother and the people who were most important to her. The reborn Tamahome had been able to fit into this world without a hitch, and had proven that he could make a good living and a name for himself without having the use of seishi powers. It was hard to understand why Miaka was even considering giving him and everything else up.

'It's gotta be 'cause she needs somethin' she ain't been gettin' around here. The bandit seishi thought, as his lips formed a determined line. Okay then. I got one month to show Miaka I can make her happier than she's ever been! I'm not gonna give her up without a fight!'

A few minutes later, the entire group had seated themselves in the large living room.

"I like this beer!" Tasuki stated expansively, after taking a long swallow from the mug Keisuke had handed him. "The white stuff on top tickles my nose."

Miaka giggled as he wrinkled his nose against the carbonation, then took another swallow. "That foam is called 'head'." She informed him innocently.

Tasuki almost choked in taking a sip, but managed to safely get it down. "That's real interestin', Mi-chan…" He murmured, when he could talk. Several hilarious and off color puns were dancing through his brain, but he valiantly held them back. No need to give anyone close to Miaka reason to accuse him of being a pervert! "What's it made of?" He asked instead. "It kinda smells like fermented grain."

She laughed. "That's because that's exactly what it is! Most beer is made with grains like barley and hops, but this brand happens to be rice-based. I'm not sure about the rest of the ingredients, but if you're really interested, I'm sure there are books available about making your own. If you'd like, we can stop at a book vendor to look at them when I go home to get my things."

"Sounds great!" He toasted her with his mug.

Keisuke spoke up. "Do you think it's a good idea for Chichiri and Tasuki to go around town with you? " He eyed the monk's robe and Tasuki's purple tunic and white breeches. "No offense, but you two would attract a lot of attention looking the way you do, not to mention me having no idea how to explain your sudden appearances to our mom!"

"That is definitely going to be a problem, you know." Chichiri agreed.

"We could tell her that they're exchange students from some unknown principality, and that will explain the hair styles and jewelry." Yui suggested. "And can't you and Tetsuya fix them up with some modern clothes?"

Keisuke pondered the question. "I could, but I don't know if that's such a good idea..."

"Oh come on, you know you'd love to show them around!" Miaka chimed in. "You're definitely the man when it comes to finding the hot spots!"

"That's right!" Tasuki confirmed eagerly. "She's been tellin' me how cool ya are!"

Keisuke tried to look modest and failed. "I guess I do know some fun places to go," he admitted.

"It would be such a blast!" Miaka cajoled him. "You and Tasuki are about the same height, so your stuff should fit him. And if we can't find anything to fit Chichiri, we'll just go to a department store and buy something."

"Or how about I stay home, and Chichiri can transform to look like me when you guys go out?" Tetsuya offered. "No one will question why he's hanging out with you guys if they think he's me, right?"

The monk looked impressed with this bit of logic. "That's an excellent suggestion you know! But… don't you want to come with us?"

Tetsuya grinned up at Yui from his position on the floor at her feet. "Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm going to waste a rare opportunity to have the place and Yui all to myself?"

"Pervert!" Yui exclaimed, as she slugged him in the arm. "Is that all you ever think about?"

"He ain't the only one." Tasuki murmured in a sly aside to Miaka.

Her cheeks pinkened. "Oh really?"

"Yeah." He purred. "I'm thinkin' about you an' me like that right now."

"Tasuki."

"Yeah, Green Eyes?"

"Behave yourself!"

Her tone held a warning, but the laughter in her expression served to egg him on. As he leaned forward to set his empty mug down on the table in front of him, he privately decided against asking for another one. He wasn't anywhere near being drunk, but if one mug lowered his inhibitions enough that he knew he had to watch it, two or three mugs would surely see him throwing common sense out the window and him jumping Miaka, brother or no brother.

Still, it couldn't hurt to tease her a little more. Just as long as no one else heard what he said.

A quick glance around told him that Keisuke and Chichiri were absorbed in listening to the suggestive banter between Yui and Tetsuya. It was safe to turn his full attention on his priestess, and so he did, with a wicked smile and the gaze of a hunter who has spotted the ultimate prey. "So, Miaka..."

"Yes?"

"Now that you know what I'm thinkin', would ya ever dare stay here all alone with me?"

She gave his bicep a playful poke, even as her facial color deepened to a delightful shade of red. "Of course I would! I told you before that I'm not scared of you!"

He deliberately dropped his gaze to her mouth, then lifted it to meet her eyes once more.

"Ya should be." He stated huskily.

"Hm. I don't see why."

Her eyes teased and challenged him to prove her wrong, but a loud, shrill ring brought their tête-à-tête to an end. In the next instant, Tasuki had leapt to his feet, pulling his tessen out of its holster in one smooth motion. Conversation ceased, and all gazes were riveted to the sparking surface of the enchanted fan as it opened with a resounding clang.

"It's all right, Tasuki!" Miaka cried out, springing to her feet and restraining him with a hand. "We're not in danger!"

"What the hell was that noise?" The bewildered seishi asked, letting the arm holding the tessen drop to his side. As he relaxed his stance, his sleeve fell to cover the crimson glow of the wing symbol that had appeared on his forearm.

"So that's what a seishi symbol looks like." Tetsuya murmured to a startled Chichiri and an open-mouthed Yui. "Cool."

"In this world we have a device we use to speak with each other over long distances, called a 'telephone'." Miaka explained, as she calmly sat back down. "It makes that noise you're hearing right now to tell us when someone is calling to talk to us. It'll repeat at intervals until someone takes the call, or if the caller decides that no one is home and gives up." She concluded, as the ringing abruptly ceased.

"Oh. Okay. Sorry 'bout that!" Sheathing his weapon, Tasuki reseated himself beside his Priestess amidst a chorus of voices advising him 'not to worry about it'.

"I'm an idiot!" He muttered, so that only the woman next to him could hear. "Can't believe I could let a stupid bit of noise shake me up that damn bad!"

"How could you know what a telephone was when you've never heard or seen one?" Miaka pointed out. "You're being too hard on yourself. Being in a totally new world, it's difficult to tell what's dangerous and what isn't. I felt exactly the same way when I first fell into the…uh…when I first arrived in Konan!"

Tasuki brightened a little. "Yeah, I suppose Konan musta come as a big shock after you'd been livin' in a place like this." He grinned as she nodded emphatically. "Well, I do gotta say I don't think it's so bad we use birds and people to carry messages. Hearin' that noise everytime someone wanted to tell me somethin' would get on my nerves!"

Miaka laughed. "You know, that's a really good point!" She agreed. "I'm glad I'll be getting away from certain stuff, like telemarketing calls-"

Her voice broke off as Tasuki suddenly leaned in close.

"Do ya really mean that?" He asked urgently, his eyes intense as they locked with hers. "Your world has pretty amazin' things, an' I know it isn't gonna be easy for ya t'give them up-"

He stopped, silenced by the brief press of her fingertips upon his lips.

"I don't care about having things, Tasuki." She declared softly. "I just want to be loved."

The bandit seishi didn't reply, but his expression made it very clear he would have liked nothing better than to grab and kiss her senseless. Having an audience and a protective big brother watching their every move was an effective deterrent to doing that much, so he came up with a compromise.

Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he drew Miaka close to his side, not giving a damn what anyone thought, or if a certain monk ended up teasing him mercilessly about the public display of affection.

"Damn! I thought I was going to finally get to see that awesome tessen in action!" Tetsuya grumbled. "No chance of that now, with Miaka totally distracting him!"

"It's just as well," Yui said consolingly. "I don't think your damage deposit would have covered the cost of repairs!"

Chichiri's gaze left the couple on the sofa to focus on the couple sitting next to him. "You've heard of Tasuki's weapon and what it can do?" He asked, in mild surprise.

"Um…yeah… Miaka told us all about it." Tetsuya replied, after a warning nudge from Yui. "It sounds awesome!"

"Yes, the tessen is very impressive." The monk remarked thoughtfully. "But it's even more impressive how proficient Tasuki has become in controling its flames with his chi, you know. He can control the path and shape they take, as well as their heat and intensity."

Tetsuya shook his head in wordless admiration. "I can't imagine what it must feel like to channel that kind of power!"

Yui's eyes were on the seishi and her best friend, who seemed to be oblivious to everything but each other. "I'm sure Tasuki would be happy give you a demonstration if you get Miaka to ask him, Tets-kun." She suggested with a sly smile. "I know he'd do anything he could to please her, and-ah!"

At Tetsuya's vehement nudge she broke off, realizing too late that she had given away prior knowledge that could only have been gleaned from reading the scroll.

As she feared, the sharp-eared Chichiri instantly picked up on her slip of the tongue. "You know how much Tasuki cares for Miaka?"

Yui nodded, looking and feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Did you know that Miaka confessed to having feelings for him?"

Yui hesitated, then gave another reluctant nod, finding it impossible to lie outright to someone she both respected and wanted to become her friend.

"But how could you know this, Priestess of Seiryu?" The monk asked, in a perplexed tone. "The two of them only revealed those feelings to each other this very day, you know!"

"Call me Yui, please." Yui responded hastily. "I can see it in their faces. And I've been Miaka's best friend since we were four years old, so it's been my job to figure out these things!" It was the truth but not the whole truth...and yet she felt justified in avoiding any mention of the scroll or book. After witnessing Tamahome's anguish upon hearing his existence was relegated to that of a character in an enchanted story, she was determined not to inflict the pain of that knowledge on anyone else from that realm, especially a kind and good man like the one seated beside her.

"As her best friend, you would know her better than anyone." Chichiri acknowledged, seemingly satisfied by her answer. "Would you mind if I asked you how you would feel about Miaka possibly choosing to stay in Konan for good?"

Yui considered her answer carefully, all the while feeling the full weight of Tetsuya's anxious stare upon her bent head. Intuition was telling her that Chichiri's question was meant as a test of loyalty and friendship, as well as a way to determine if any spiteful feelings towards Miaka still lingered in her heart.

"My main concern is that Miaka does what's best for her. " She told the monk in a somber voice. "I would really miss her, but if Tasuki is the one who can make her truly happy for the rest of her life, then I am all for them staying together... wherever that may be."

"Amen to that," Tetsuya said softly.

"Well said, Yui!" Chichiri added, with a smile and a look of warm approval that brought a bright flush of pleasure to her cheeks. "Spoken like a true friend."

As the phone began to ring again, Keisuke grumbled, "The answering machine is on the fritz again, Tets. When are you gonna get it fixed?" He smiled sarcastically, not expecting a response since Tetsuya was immersed in conversation with Chichiri and Yui, and Miaka and Tasuki only had eyes and ears for each other.

His eyes narrowed, taking in the fact that the ex-bandit was holding his sister's hand, and that he had an proprietary arm slung about her shoulders. He was also whispering something in her ear that had Miaka blushing furiously before she reached up and touched his cheek. As they smiled at each other, Keisuke looked away, resenting the feeling that he had witnessed something not meant for a brother's eyes.

Irritation and loneliness tagged along as he turned on his heel and stalked towards the kitchen, muttering under his breath, "Oh sure, let Keisuke go get it- he doesn't have anything better to do then to answer the phone! Why can't someone else be the fifth wheel for a change? Gods…sometimes life just sucks!"

He grabbed the phone up from its cradle and gave a curt hello. A moment later, self -pity had been replaced by a sharp sense of foreboding at hearing the smooth voice greeting him on the other end of the line.

"Keisuke, you are there! How did your exams go?"

"Oh! Hey there, Taka! Um...good, I guess. I know for sure I passed."

"That's great!" The other man said heartily. "Say, I don't mean to be rude, but our time on the phones is limited, and I've been trying to get hold of Miaka- would she happen to be there with you?"

"Um…yeah. Yeah, she's here."

"Not to be rude, but could you put her on right away? My transfer date's been moved up to tomorrow, and I have something really important to discuss with her."

Keisuke's heart contracted. Was Taka finally going to propose to Miaka? For the first time, he hoped that wasn't the case. "No problem, I understand." He said quietly. "Just hold on a minute while I get her, okay? She's in the living room with...uh, some friends that came over unexpectedly." He didn't want to be the one to explain that those friends were from Konan. That would have to be Miaka's call.

"Thanks, Keisuke." Taka's voice was full of its usual warmth. "I'll be counting on you to take care of Miaka for me."

"I'll do my best." Keisuke promised uncomfortably. 'Oh man…that's going to be much easier said than done.' "Take good care of yourself, okay?"

"I'll be fine." The other man assured him in a voice that rang with confidence.

'I hope so.' Keisuke thought glumly. 'I'll hope and pray you will be.'

Though the phone was a cordless one, he decided to leave it on the kitchen counter rather than to carry it out to Miaka. Hopefully, that would buy her some extra time to compose herself once she found out who was on the other end of the line.

When he got to living room his pace slowed, as if lead weights were attached to his feet. As bad as he felt for the unsuspecting Taka, he felt even worse when he saw the genuine happiness shining in his sister's face. As he watched her exchanging a smile with Tasuki, it dawned on him that the next month would probably be close to a private hell on earth for Miaka. 'Whatever she decision she makes is going to cause her a lot of pain. No matter where she goes and who she chooses, she will have to give up someone she loves. It's just not fair!'

The couple looked up at his approach, their smiles fading at the gloomy look he knew he was wearing and could do nothing to hide.

"Miaka, it's for you." Somehow he was managing to force the words past the huge lump that was lodged in his throat. "It's Taka… he's shipping out a lot sooner than he thought and he needs to speak to you right away."

The silence that followed the announcement was much like the deathly quiet that follows an explosion. Tasuki's gaze was fiery and fierce as it returned to the colorless face of woman at his side. Keisuke watched in silence as the seishi's other arm went around her shoulders, holding her in an embrace that was both protective and tender. He then began to speak to her in a low, gentle voice. In a matter of seconds, the color came back into Miaka's face and she seemed to regain her poise.

'He's obviously good for her, and he knows how to handle her. They would probably be really happy together. Keisuke thought sadly. But Tasuki doesn't have a clue as to the truth about who and what he is. Loving Miaka as much as he does, I' m sure he'd want her to remain here if he found out about the book and its spell. But who's going to tell him? I sure as hell won't, Miaka would never speak to me again! And Taka is going away, so he-'

Keisuke lost his train of thought as a hand gripped his shoulder. Turning his head, he found himself looking directly into the unmasked, brutally scarred face of Chichiri.

"Taking care of someone is a very hard habit to break, isn't it?" The monk asked gently.

"Yeah."

Chichiri's good eye shimmered with compassion. "I felt exactly the same way when your sister last left our world, you know. To make myself feel better, I even told Taka he had to make Miaka as happy as she could be."

Keisuke shook his head. "He really tried his best to do that, but they've been having some serious problems-"

He broke off as the seishi raised a hand.

"Taka can still keep his promise by allowing Miaka to follow the path that will lead to her happiness, even if that means them having to say goodbye to each other." Chichiri said, with a certainty that his listener found oddly comforting. "It's best to find out now, before any vows are spoken. Do you agree?"

"Yes, unfortunately." Keisuke's smile was half-hearted. "As much as I haven't liked how things have been with him and my sister, Taka has been a great friend to me. I feel sad that it's come down to this for them."

"Me too." Chichiri agreed quietly.

"Guess it's like an old saying we have in this world- 'If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, then it was meant to be.'"

"I like that saying." The monk stated warmly. "It's a perfect analogy, you know."

"I kinda think so." Keisuke's smile was stronger this time. "So tell me, then… is it all right that we worry about our loved ones even after we let go?"

Chichiri gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Absolutely, you know! Just because they're on their own doesn't mean you stop caring... or helping them if and when they ask you to."

To be continued