The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story
By KittyLynne
(All rights to Fushigi Yûgi and its characters belong to Yû Watase/Shogakukan Shoujo Comics/TV Tokyo/ Studio Pierrot / Pioneer Entertainment. No infringement is intended, I am just a poor fan that wanted more love for Fang Boy.)
Author's reminder: The use of italics and/or quote marks within the story text denotes a character's unspoken thoughts
Chapter Eighteen: Born to Love You
While Tasuki had gone to take her packed possessions to the car, Miaka distracted her mother and Mrs. Hongo with small talk. After thinking of and rejecting several excuses, she had settled on telling the two women that she had landed a temporary summer job near Keisuke's apartment, would be living there for the next month or so, and would be almost impossible to get ahold of while working double shifts.
That what she intended to say, but the carefully planned explanation died on her tongue in the face of her mother's trusting gaze, and instead she found herself blurting out that she'd be spending the night at Keisuke's place after going out to celebrate the end of his exams.
"All right," Mrs. Yuuki said. "Will Shun'u be going along with you?"
"Er, yes. I did invite him." Miaka tried not to fidget as the two women exchanged a knowing look.
"I'm glad to hear that you will have an escort." Mrs Yuuki said. "Those young men in the bars can get very aggressive."
"Unfortunate but true." Mrs. Hongo agreed emphatically. "We don't need a repeat of what happened to your mother!"
Tasuki entered the room just in time to hear the remark. "No need to worry about it, ma'am! None of 'em is gonna be touchin' Miaka!" His expression made it evident that he would back the statement up with force if the need arose.
"Keep her safe, Shun'u!" Mrs. Yuuki declared. "Diplomacy is best, of course, but if it fails...your spin-and-kick move is highly effective!"
Tasuki grinned at her. "Got a couple of others that are better." He said, and winked.
Mrs. Yuuki's cheeks pinkened and she laughed girlishly. "I have no doubts on that!"
"My goodness!" Mrs. Hongo murmured. Her widened gaze sought Miaka's, a speaking look that said she was wondering what on earth had gotten into Miaka's mother. In return, Miaka gave a small shake of the head and a shrug. She was just as perplexed by her mother's easy acceptance and jocularity towards her companion-not that she was complaining- but still, it was very disconcerting to witness.
"It was nice to see you again, Mrs. Hongo!" She said, a bit loudly. "I wish we could stay and chat, but we're using Tetsuya's car and he needs it back by certain time."
The older woman smiled. "I understand, dear. Please greet my daughter and Tetsuya for me, won't you?"
"Of course." Miaka's answering smile was unforced. The lack of an honorific and the warmth in Mrs. Hongo's tone as she spoke his name, it was clear Tetsuya had also earned parental approval.
"You can't even stay for dinner?" Mrs. Yuuki asked, looking disappointed.
"I'm afraid not. We still have a couple errands to run and I promised Tetsuya I'd have the Lexus back to him by five."
"Then you had better get moving." The elder Yuuki set her cup down and got to her feet. "I'll see you to the door."
After bidding farewell to Mrs. Hongo, Tasuki and Miaka followed Mrs. Yuuki out into the entryway. Once there, she turned to her rescuer and bowed deeply. "Shun'u, you're a good man. It's not an adequate reward in any way, but you have my eternal thanks for coming to my rescue."
Though Tasuki's face was red, it was clear that he was pleased. "Your thanks and the brownies are more than enough for me, ma'am."
"Are you sure you're all right, Mom?" Miaka asked anxiously. "Those boys were rough with you-"
"I'm fine, as strong as I need to be." Mrs. Yuuki replied, returning her daughter's hug. Turning back to Tasuki, she offered him a smile. "You are welcome in my home any time, Kou Shun'u. Please visit as often as your schedules allows."
He bowed deeply. "My thanks. I apppreciate that more than ya can know."
Mrs. Yuuki gazed intently at the young man who had literally sprinted into her life, sensing a return of the profound sadness from before. Her smile wavered a moment, and then strengthened. "I feel I can trust you with my daughter. Don't disappoint me."
"I won't let ya down!" He vowed, his eyes burning with resolve as they met hers. "I swear it!"
Miaka looked away, swallowing the lump of emotion that had gathered in her throat at the thought that her mother couldn't know of the sacrifices Tasuki had already made in protecting her. She wished she didn't have keep the things that had happened in Konan a secret from her parent, but how could she ever explain them? Her mother hadn't believed her about the existence of the book the first time, so what would be the use?
But ...was it as hopeless a prospect as it had been back then? Her relationship with her mother had definitely improved in the past three years. They'd both done some changing, as evidenced by her mother's ability to accept this unexpected development in Miaka's life without peppering her daughter with intrusive opinions or a strident lecture. Her acceptance of Tasuki was a positive sign that she had some trust in her daughter's judgment, even if approval had been facilitated by a spectacular rescue.
An anxious frown furrowed Miaka's brow.
Her mother was strong as she needed to be. But would she be able to handle the truth of her daughter's secret life?
Miaka was in an unusually subdued mood as she drove away from her childhood home, and Tasuki didn't need to ask why. He understood all too well what was causing her anxiety because he felt exactly the same way. In the short time he had known Mrs. Yuuki she had made a huge and favorable impression on him, not to mention the protective instincts she brought out. This was the woman who had given birth to his beloved Miaka. He hated the thought of her staying alone in an apartment that was surrounded by criminals, and the whole idea of making her worry about where Miaka was and what she was doing.
They rode in silence for several minutes in quiet, with Miaka concentrating on her driving. When traffic lightened, she ventured to speak.
"I have to say that went very well, Tasuki. Better than I hoped."
"Yeah, I was kinda surprised." He chuckled, picturing the statuesque Mrs. Yuuki standing next to his rotund and very busty mother. "Your Ma's a lot different from my Ma."
"I hope I'll get to meet your mom and have a visit with your family."
"Yeah. Someday. We'll see how things go."
"You don't sound very enthusiastic."
Tasuki merely grunted, but then, at seeing the perplexed look she was giving him, added quickly, "Doesn't have to do with you. There's always stupid family issues to deal with whenever I go home."
Miaka sent him another sidelong look while debating if she should pursue the subject, but his expression dissuaded her. Whatever the conflict was between Tasuki and his family, she was bound to find out eventually, and it wasn't something to press him on when they were on a date. "Well, let's focus on the positive. My mom definitely approves of you."
"Your ma's pretty smart."
She laughed as he flashed a grin. "Yes. But she doesn't know everything about you. Don't know how she'd react to-"
"Me bein' a bad ass ex-bandit with a tessen that shoots fire?"
"Yes, there's that..."
"And the fact that we met when I kidnapped and tried to 'french' ya before we were properly introduced?"
"Yes, it might be better not to mention that..."
"Or that I've got inhuman speed an' why."
"Do you know, I actually think she'd handle that okay. But she might freak out over seeing how much you can..." Eyeing him slyly, she made a gesture as if to take a long swig out of a sake bottle.
Tasuki's smile flatlined.
"Yeah, well, gotta say that's one thing that's kinda changed." He said gruffly. "I quit drinkin' t'excess after that night in Kahou."
"I'm sorry. I'm being mean to tease about-"
"No need to be sorry for speakin' th' truth, Mi-chan." A small smile played around the former bandit's mouth. "I enjoy a bowl now an' then, but I stay sober. It's the one thing I had left to prove to myself... an' to you."
She didn't know the right words to tell him how his had affected her. He'd already given away so much. Tears sprang to her eyes.
"Ain't a big deal!" Tasuki said quickly. "Fact is, your ma won't like t'hear about a lot of things havin' to do with me."
She shook her head. "My mom is no slouch when it comes to assessing a person's character. Your rescue impressed her, and you impressed her even more by talking to her and answering her questions. When she says you're a very good man, that's exactly what you are."
"She's the good person! To try to help those poor bastards, after what they tried to do to her?" He shook his head.
"She really is." Miaka sighed. "But I've come to realize that she doesn't always realize what's best for herself sometimes."
A large hand gently grasped her forearm.
"I know yer worried about her bein' on her own. So am I. Just as I'm sworn to protect ya, I swear I'm gonna find a way for us to keep her safe an' happy."
"Oh Tasuki." She cast him a glance full of gratitude mixed with sadness. "You have such boundless optimism- you make me believe that could happen."
"A Suzaku warrior never gives up, Mi-chan." He told her solemnly. "If I had, I wouldn't be here."
The trip to the Kawahara bookstore had been fun but too brief as far as Tasuki was concerned. He still couldn't believe that the wonderful array of tomes he had seen lining shelf after shelf were written by so many different people from the far corners of Miaka's world, and wished they could have had hours to spend looking instead of minutes. Still, in the short time they had to spend in the store Miaka had managed to find manuals about wine and beer making written with symbols that he could read. He was anxious to start reading as soon as they got back to the apartment.
The only bone of contention between them had been regarding the payment for the books. Obviously he had no currency that the store would accept, so Miaka had paid for everything in spite of his heated objections. It was a matter of honor and pride for him, however, and so he'd kept arguing. Finally, she had shut him up by agreeing to let him buy something nice for her once they were back in Konan.
She hadn't looked happy about it though...in fact, she had been downright pissed off, which both perplexed and amazed him. All of the other women he'd been acquainted with never gave anything before they'd gotten something first, much less wanted to give him a gift with no strings attached! But Miaka was Miaka, and it wasn't a surprise to him that she would be different in this as in everything else. She'd only wanted to do something nice for him, and the least he could do in return was to cast aside his pride and show her some gratitude, Tasuki thought remorsefully.
When they had exited the bookstore, he wrapped one arm around her and pulled her off to the side. "Thanks for gettin' th' books for me, Green Eyes." He said huskily. "Sorry for makin' a fuss about it."
Though Miaka didn't look up, he could see the faint smile curving her lips. "It's okay. And you're wel-" She broke off on a gasp, eyes widening as they stared at a point to the side of him.
He turned quickly to see what had startled her. They were standing in front of the store window, but with the angle of the sun, all he could discern was their joint reflection, which stood out like a statue amongst the moving waves of people passing by them. Nothing amiss there- in fact, it was a very pleasant sight to see Miaka tucked securely beneath the curve of his arm, looking as if she belonged there. "What's wrong, Mi-chan?"
"Absolutely nothing." She replied, sounding somewhat breathless. "In fact, everything's great!"
She was gazing up at him with the smile that lit up the world. He smiled back; just as her tears cut him to the quick, tenderness filled him at the sight of beautiful green eyes glowing with happiness. Apparently she liked the image of them standing together...and that made him happy.
"So what are we gonna do now, Boss?" He asked lightly.
She left the circle of his arm and grabbed his hand, tugging him into motion. "Now we're going back to the car and going to the apartment to order a couple of pizzas! I'm famished!"
"What are… pizzas?" His tongue stumbled over the unfamiliar word.
"You'll have to wait and see," She teased. "But I'm sure you're going to love them!"
Minutes later, as she pulled into the Lexus' usual parking spot, Miaka felt a glow of accomplishment at having navigated the horrendous Tokyo traffic without getting so much as a scratch on the luxurious vehicle. She could hardly wait to gloat about it to Tetsuya, although she wasn't so naïve as to hope that her success with the Lexus would earn her another chance to drive it.
They exited the vehicle, and then Tasuki retrieved Miaka's suitcases and his bookstore bag from the trunk.
"After this, I don't know how you're gonna be able to go back to gettin' around on horses!" He observed, as they walked across the parking lot towards the apartment complex. "That was a pretty nice ride."
"There are drawbacks to cars too." She told him earnestly. "You don't have to worry about horses breaking down, getting a flat tire, or polluting the air."
Tasuki smirked. "I dunno about that; I've ridden some sorry nags in my day. Get a bunch of them together, the horse shit piles up, and stinks as much as what comes out of the back end of that thing, not to mention havin' to worry about steppin' in it."
"Ewwww!" She exlaimed, grimacing in mock disgust.
"Can't be helped- it just happens, y'know?" The ex-bandit chortled, delighted with his wit. "Shit happens. I like it! Can't wait to share that with th' guys!" He eyed his smirking priestess. "What?"
"You're not the first one to say that. It's already a popular saying in this world."
"Are ya kiddin' me?"
She laughed at his expression of dismay. "Not kidding. You can find it printed on a lot of merchandise, like on the front of shirts just like the one you're wearing."
He was amazed. "I gotta get somethin' like that for Kouji!"
"There isn't time. The store that sells them is too far away."
"Damn."
"How about beer glasses?" She suggested, not liking to disappoint him. "When you produce that first batch, he's going to need something special to put it in, right?"
Tasuki brightened. "Yeah! I like that! But where-"
"I'll take a couple from Keisuke's collection. He's got a bunch in his cupboard, I guarantee that he'll never notice any missing." Her eyebrows were lifted, and her grin was unrepentant. "You doubting my ability to get them?" She challenged as he stared at her. "Care to place a wager on it?"
He laughed and tweaked her cheek. "I'd be a damn fool to bet against ya, Mi-chan. But ya know those bandit instincts of yours are startin' t'scare me."
They entered the building's lobby and boarded the empty elevator. When the doors closed, Tasuki found himself staring at the digital numbers flashing on the panel above them once again and deeply regretting that the suitcases in his hands prevented him from making any moves on Miaka.
Thankfully, in what seemed like no time at all they reached their destination. Miaka stepped out of the elevator and he followed, ignoring her offer to help carry a bag.
They walked silently down the corridor to Keisuke and Tetsuya's apartment door. Once there, she located her key and inserted it into the lock, but then hesitated before turning it. Tasuki frowned at her quiet sigh. "What's th' matter, Mi-chan?"
Leaving the key in place, she turned and leaned back against the door. "I don't want to go in," she confessed softly. "I've been having a wonderful time, and I hate that it's ending so soon."
"Well, hell... we don't hafta go in right away..."
They maintained eye contact as he carefully set the bags alongside the corridor wall and then moved forward to stand directly in front of her.
Please, let no one come, Miaka prayed silently, as she watched Tasuki turn his head to check each end of the hallway. 'Please…give us a little longer…'
Her prayers were answered when a minute ticked by and no one appeared in the corridor or opened a door to greet them. Her heart thundered in anticipation as her seishi leaned closer, bracing one of his hands just above her head while the other gently curled around the side of her neck. In response, her arms lifted to shyly encircle his waist as she continued to gaze up at him.
Slowly, Tasuki bent forward and brushed his closed lips along the arch of her eyebrows. Her eyelids lowered under the onslaught of sensation, covering green eyes that were shining with need. When she felt feather- light caresses being placed upon them, Miaka sighed in pleasure, her face tilting up to his like a flower seeking the warmth of the sun. He kissed the tip of her nose, then began to nuzzle the curve of her cheek while his thumb slowly stroked the sensitive hollow beneath her left ear; she shivered in reaction to the sensual combination of touches.
When she felt the warmth of his mouth drawing near to the corner of hers, her lips parted in a mute plea for contact. Tasuki breathed her name, then continued to tease her by turning his head and evading her mouth when she sought to claim his lips. Chuckling at her groan of exasperation, he bent forward to nip playfully at her ear lobe; when she began to move restlessly in his grasp, he paused to whisper into her ear.
"Relax, I got it covered."
At her murmur of acquiesence, he resumed nibbling on her lobe and then moved on to nuzzle the arched cord of muscle running along the side of her neck. A delightful sort of tension was building within her, but she kept it tamped down. If she were to relax and enjoy the time they had left to themselves, she couldn't lose control of herself.
But as she leaned against him, and Tasuki gathered her up and took possession of her lips with a passionate confidence that made her knees want to buckle, the leashed sensation exploded within her. She made an incoherent little noise as his mouth widened over hers; whimpered as his tongue tip flicked over her lips, retreated, then returned to probe them insistently until they took the hint and parted to receive him. He entered the moist cavern beyond with a smooth thrust of his tongue, tasting her thoroughly while his hand slid under her hair to grasp the nape of her neck. There was immense power in that hand, but an infinite amount of tenderness as well. As stimulating as his touch was, it was even more so to know that he'd only let this romantic side of himself show around her.
Her arms slipped from around his waist so that she could reciprocate. One hand moved upwards to wrap around the braid hanging over his shoulder, as the fingers of the other traced the arc of his ear lobe and seductively toyed with the earring that dangled from it. She felt a moment of triumph at her warrior's abrupt intake of air, just before his mouth came crashing down on hers yet again. She moaned, reveling in the deepening urgency of the kiss and the hard press of his hips against hers. Hooking one calf around his leg, she slid her arms around his neck and arched into his body, yielding to the sweet and insistent force of his masculinity...
The sound of a door opening only a few feet away sounded like an explosion in the silence. Miaka did her best to stifle a disappointed moan as Tasuki broke off the kiss and wrenched himself out of her embrace.
Laughing, chattering voices echoed out into the hall as a trio of extremely pretty and rather suggestively dressed young women appeared. As one of them slammed and locked the apartment door, the other two blatantly ogled the seishi from head to toe and then regarded his companion's state of dishevelment with envious smiles.
In spite of having to hide the pulsing light of his yoku, Tasuki managed a polite greeting which the women returned, along with flirtatious glances and much giggling as they passed by on their way to the elevator. Miaka felt a sharp stab of jealousy as she watched amber eyes follow their progress, but banished the feeling at once as irrelevant. Tasuki had chosen her, hadn't he? And besides, it wasn't like it was an unusual occurence to have her boyfriend checked out by others; the tall, dark, and handsome Taka had drawn the attention and admiration of females wherever the two of them had gone. It wasn't surprising at all that the same thing would happen with Tasuki, given his exotic brand of masculine beauty.
After the elevator had whisked the three women out of sight, he looked down at her with laughter in his eyes. "Does your brother know those three are livin' next door to him?"
Miaka shook her head. "I remember they were moving in when he was studying for exams; he was practically living at the library then." She smirked. "If he saw them, he would have said something. Keisuke does take pride in being neighborly."
"Do th' poor guy a favor an' don't tell him!" Tasuki said grimly. "Women like those three are nothin' but trouble."
She raised her eyebrows. "Really? How do you know?"
"'Cause I got sisters who act just like 'em, doin' themselves up an' givin' those come hither looks, and when a guy wanted them bad enough, they would reel him in. Poor bastards never knew what hit 'em, or that after the fun stuff, they'd be stuck with a high maintenance shrew!" He shook his head. "Aidou's the only one I got hope for, but even she's a pain in the butt at times."
Miaka blinked at the wry disgust in his tone. She didn't want to judge, as hadn't met any of Tasuki's sisters except Aidou, who had seemed like a sweet person save forthe log throwing incident. Hearing that Tasuki had a poor opinion of his siblings made her a little apprehensive. Were they the origin of his hatred of women? And would he grow to resent her if she liked certain things?
"I won't mention anything to Keisuke." She said slowly. "But I have to say that I like make up and dressing up with jewelry and stylish clothes too! And I like when someone who matters to me says I look good. Does that put me into the 'high maintenance' category of woman you dislike?"
"No." Her seishi said with authority. "Not you."
"Why the difference?" She asked.
"Ya don't use the stuff to be somethin' you're not, an' ya don't expect someone to get it for ya. Yer fine with or without it." Tasuki explained. "No matter what, yer just Miaka. An' that's one of the highest compliments I can give ya, all right?"
The glare that accompanied his words said she'd better believe him or he'd take offense.
She smiled and went to hug him, completely reassured. "Definitely all right." She murmured against his ear. "Thank you."
After a last quick embrace, Miaka pulled herself from her warrior's arms and reluctantly unlocked the door to her brother's apartment. All was quiet as she held the door open for Tasuki, and while he set down the suitcases, she called out a greeting.
When there was no reply, she exchanged a puzzled glance with the man at her side. "Could they have have decided to go out for a while?"
"Looks that way." Tasuki grabbed the suitcases, thinking if he occupied his hands they wouldn't wander into dangerous territory. They were alone for the moment, but the chances were slight that they'd have time to share more than what had happened out in the hall. There was no sense starting anything he couldn't finish properly. "So where do ya want your things?"
"First bedroom on the left; that's the one I stay in when I sleep over."
As her seishi dutifully trudged down the hall with his burden, Miaka meandered into the living room. Setting the keys on the coffee table, she kicked off her sandals with a sigh of relief and threw herself down on the sofa, assuming a semi-reclining position.
Tasuki emerged from the bedroom, carrying a folded piece of paper."Hey Mi-chan, there was a note left on the bed for ya."
"I'm in the living room," she called, giving him a lazy wave. As he approached, she sat up and smoothed down her skirt, which had ridden up on her thighs.
"Ya didn't hafta sit up! I like ya lying down. " He teased, and chuckled as she stuck out her tongue at him.
He sat down next to her and handed her the note.
"Oh, it's from Yui-chan," she said, looking at the neat, precise characters that formed her name. "I wonder why she didn't text me?"
Tasuki regarded her with an expectant air as Miaka unfolded the paper. She read the writing on it silently, and the seishi wondered at her heightened facial color, then turned his attention to the note when she read it aloud.
Miaka,
Convinced the guys to take Chichiri on a mini-bus tour of Tokyo to help him practice his illusion. (Imagine me walking around on the arms of two Tetsuyas! It's going to be a blast! )
We'll be back around six thirty with plenty of carry out for dinner, so I expect that you and Tasuki will not waste valuable time stuffing your faces with pizza!
Much Love,
Yui
P.S. Wanted to text you, but your nosy brother keeps taking my iphone.
P.S.S. You can thank me later.
"Whaddaya know." Tasuki said, eyes fixed on the note. "That's nice of her."
"Yes." Miaka agreed, falling silent as her warrior's long fingers took and deftly refolded the note into eighths and tossed it onto the coffee table in front of them. As he turned his head, her pulse leapt to double time at seeing the purposeful gleam in his eyes.
"Ya hungry, Mi-chan?"
His voice was soft and intimate; the flutters of excitement in her tummy that she'd felt during the kiss in the corridor returned in force, effectively banishing her thoughts of food. "Are you?"
After moving closer to her, Tasuki slid his arm along the back of the sofa, just above her shoulders, and then amended the statement. "Yeah, I'm hungry."
His meaning was evident, his desire for her was in his voice, his face, and the tautness of his body. As badly as she wanted to respond in kind, she couldn't. Despite the ring , he hadn't made his intentions clear, and she had a deep yearning to hear the three important words he still hadn't voiced. "What do you want to have?"
"I thought that was kinda obvious," he said as he leaned in, "that it's not what I want, but who."
As he sought to kiss her neck, Miaka fended him off with a hand to his chest. What Tasuki was suggesting so teasingly would be a huge step in their relationship. He'd made a point of saying that once that line was crossed there was no going back...so why was he making light of it? "Tasuki, please!"
He reared back to give her a wolfish grin. "Please...what?"
"Please stop joking around!" She snapped, as she managed to put significant space between them. "This isn't the time!"
"The hell it's not!" All vestiges of humor were now gone from his face. "Look at ya! You're stretched tighter than a pair of my old pants! I was just tryin' to make ya laugh so you'd loosen up a little!" He glared at her, obviously frustrated by her change of mood.
"I don't want to laugh right now!" She said in a choked voice. "I can't! Like you said, what I know is how to be me. And so I'm telling you that what I feel, and what might happen here, is too important for me to joke about."
As her words sunk in, he sat up straight. "Just what are ya sayin', Miaka?"
On the verge of tears, she turned her back to him. "I love you, Tasuki, and because of that there's not a ring on my finger any longer. But you haven't said anything about that, or how you feel about me and where all of this is going!" She drew in a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, but before I make love with you, I have to know if you're taking it as seriously as I am-"
She was cut off by a profane exclamation and strong hands pulling her back against a hard body. As Tasuki buried his face in the curve of her neck and his natural warmth enveloped her, she allowed her head to fall back against his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she tried to convince herself that she didn't need to hear the actual words, and that the tender way he was holding her in this moment told her all she needed to know.
"Sorry." He mumbled against her skin. "I figured ya already knew."
She reached and grasped his hand, which had left her waist and was gesturing in a helpless sort of way. "Knew what?"
He raised his head and placed his hands on her shoulders, turning them gently but firmly until she was induced to move and face him.
"That just as much as I was born to protect the Priestess of Suzaku... I was born to love Miaka Yuuki as much as a man can love a woman."
His eyes never left hers. His voice was clear and sure. His words erased all doubts, and ignited a roaring blaze of happiness in her heart that spread rapidly to the rest of her body. Reaching up with both hands, she pulled his head down to hers, and put all of the love and passion running rampant within her into the kiss they exchanged.
When their mouths finally parted, Tasuki stayed close and continued to stare at her. "There's a couple more things I need to tell ya. I'm only gonna say 'em once, so ya better listen good."
She nodded.
"If you're gonna be with me, ya gotta know I'm not a hearts an' flowers kinda guy. I ain't any good at spewin' the sa- uh, the romantic-type stuff women like t'hear. Like ya said, it's my way t'do things for ya to show ya how I feel." He paused as she nodded again. "The other thing is about my knowing things about bein' physical with a woman, but I got that experience outta necessity an' convenience, not love." He gave her a sad smile. "I'm glad that you had only the good side of it with Taka, and I'm gonna make damn sure to keep it that way! Never again do I want to see ya looking up at me with unhappiness and fear in your eyes!"
"Tasuki-"
"It's in the past now." He interrupted, his accent growing thick with his rising emotions. "All I wanna think about is findin' out how t'make ya feel better than you ever have in your life!" Reaching for her hands, he placed them directly over his wildly beating heart.
"You're wonderin' how I feel, so here it is, Miaka! In the way of a seishi givin' his life for his priestess, I belong to you. In the way of a friend always bein' there for a friend, I belong to you. In the way of a man givin' himself totally to a woman, I belong only to you." He paused to give her a hopeful, searching look. "I can't think of any better way t'say it, but I hope it's good enough to make ya understand that I'm very serious about bein' with ya."
Her hand lifted and lovingly caressed his cheek. "It's more than good enough. It's perfect."
"So I can quit talkin' and start showin' ya?"
"Yes, but-"
Tasuki heaved an exaggerated sigh as she hesitated, and the look he gave her made it obvious his patience was almost gone. "But what, Miaka?"
She got to her feet and held out her hand, her lips and eyes issuing a smiling invitation. "I'm thinking that there's a much more comfortable place we could be for doing that kind of thing."
"Ah! I getcha." With a laugh, Tasuki grasped her extended hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. When she began tugging him in the direction of the bedrooms, however, he dug in his heels. "Wait a minute. Not so fast."
She stopped and gave him an impatient look.
"Somethin's missin' here, but I ain't sure what it is." He replied seriously. Seconds later, his eyes took on a sparkle and a wicked grin came to his lips.
When he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, Miaka emitted a gasping shriek of laughter. "What are you doing?"
"Finishing off the way things got started with us." He informed her as he set off for the nearest bedroom. "Your cute 'lil ass belongs to me, now, an' I ain't givin' it up to nobody!"
She giggled. "Tasuki!"
"Miaka!" He responded, his tone holding gentle mockery for her penchant for overusing names, and then resonating with satisfaction as he added, "if yer thinkin' of yellin' for help, don't bother- there's no one around who's gonna keep me from havin' my way with ya!"
"I understand." His captive said, while eyeing the flexing muscles of his buttocks with bright eyed anticipation. "It's inevitable..."
"Damn right!"
"...that I intend to have my way with you too!" She declared, sucuumbing to the urge to give his backside a good, healthy pinch.
The ex-bandit's laughing yelp of surprise quickly changed to a spate of curses as a loud, long buzz filled the air.
"What the hell?" He gritted, as he came to a halt outside the bedroom door. "It's not the damn tell- a -phoney, is it?"
Though she was just as frustrated at the interruption, Miaka grinned. Tasuki was just too cute...and she loved explaining things to him. "No, this sound means someone's outside and waiting for us to answer the front door."
Her seishi scowled. "Maybe your brother or Tetsuya forgot somethin'?"
"They'd have used keys."
"Maybe that's what they forgot."
"Not likely that both of them would...and besides, if they saw Tetsuya's car, they'd know we're back and would have buzzed us on the downstairs com to let them in."
The buzzer sounded again, longer and more insistent in tone.
"Whoever it is, it don't sound like they're gonna give up an' leave." Tasuki stated, glaring at the door.
"We'll have to find out." Miaka said. "If you put me down, I can go look through the peephole. If I know who it is, then I can deal with them quickly."
Tasuki looked as if he wanted to argue, but another grating summons put an end to his objections. He glared towards the door as the buzzer sounded again. "Okay, let's take care of it. That's another noise that gets on my nerves!"
"I'll be quick!" She promised.
He set her down and then trailed along behind her like a lost puppy as she hurried to the door. Taking up a stance directly behind her, he folded his arms over his chest and watched as she went on tiptoe to peer through a tiny glass hole in the upper middle part of the door.
"Miaka?" He whispered, when she didn't move or speak. "Is it someone ya know?"
When she turned to face him, the fire seishi was shocked to see all the color had drained out of her face. As she slumped back against the wall without answering, Tasuki quickly stepped past her and put an eye to the hole. Almost immediately, his stomach gave a sickening lurch as he recognized the distorted but undeniably handsome features of the dark-haired man standing on the other side of the door.
Taka.
"He's got a hell of a nerve showin' up here! I got a good mind to-"
Tasuki broke off the muttered thought as soon as he felt a restraining hand on his arm. Frowning, he turned to the woman standing behind him.
"He said those things because he's been hurt badly." Miaka said, very quietly. "I hope you will forgive him."
The wing seishi's scowl deepened. Even though he knew he could afford to be generous, his gut was twisting into knots at seeing how much Miaka still cared for his rival.
"Tasuki-"
"I won't pick a fight. " He told her flatly. "Unless he's threatenin' you."
Her smile conveyed relief and gratitude. "Thank you."
He shrugged. "Ya love the guy, don'tcha? What else would I do?"
Miaka's gaze narrowed at the bitterness in his voice. "Please don't think that way, Tasuki."
"Sure. Okay." He knew he should leave it there, but it was if a demon had taken possession of him and was urging him to push her to the limit. "After all, I'm the guy who doesn't think-" He broke off on a loud grunt of surprise as her body slammed into his and pushed him back against the wall. Grabbing gentle fistfuls of his hair. Miaka tugged his face down to hers. He stared into indignant green eyes, feeling dazed and turned on. This trait was one he had forgotten was a part of her...though her impetuous streak had often spelled trouble for him in the past, in this case being the recipient of an infamous 'Miaka attack' was damn enjoyable.
"I love you Tasuki." She stated.
As she pressed more closely against him and took his lips, the buzzer went off once more. They ignored it. Her kiss was an admonishment, but Tasuki didn't mind. To know that Miaka was kissing him while keeping Taka waiting out in the corridor reassured him more about her feelings than anything else she could have done. Closing his eyes, he responded to the demands of his beloved's lips. Desire rolled through his body, thick and hot, as the kiss deepened until Miaka abruptly broke off the embrace.
As she pulled herself out of his arms, he opened his eyes to stare at her, but kept his feelings to himself not wanting Taka to overhear if he expressed his displeasure at being kept from getting as close as humanly possible to her.
Her eyes had darkened to a mossy green, and held a hint of satisfaction as she took in his frustrated expression.
"I'm about to tell Taka, face-to-face, how I feel about you." She said. "Can you handle that?"
He simply nodded, and she stepped back and reached out to open the door.
Taka's heart leapt with excitement as the door opened. He knew Miaka was there, but had almost given up hope that anyone was going to answer the buzzer. But excitement turned to remorse as soon he saw her face. Her paleness, the sadness in her eyes and the wariness in her demeanor spoke louder than words about the hurtful things he had accused her of and the childish way he had acted.
No wonder she hadn't been in a hurry. He deserved to be kept at arm's length.
"Hello Taka," she said, and he winced at the coolness in her tone.
"Miaka…I …I wanted to talk to you before I ship out." His voice was rough with emotion and he had to stop to clear his throat. "Um…may I please come in?"
"Only if you promise to be civil to me."
Hope rose in his chest."I will!"
"And to Tasuki."
As she spoke, she let the door drift open, and Taka saw the flame haired seishi standing behind her, arms crossed over his chest.
The gazes of the two men clashed and held.
Remembering the muffled thud he had heard just before Miaka had opened the door, Taka's heart sank to his shoes. Judging by the redness of Tasuki's mouth and Miaka's ruffled appearance, he'd interrupted a make out session. The idea made him want to tear into the redhead verbally if not physically, but he couldn't. Unfortunately, the only way he'd get past the door was to agree to Miaka's terms.
"I'll be civil," he said gruffly, giving Tasuki a stiff nod of greeting. "Tasuki. You're looking well."
The redhead's eyes dropped to the impressively decorated dress uniform the other man wore. "You too, Taka. Real nice lookin' uniform ya got there."
"Thanks."
"All right, that's a start. Please come in." Miaka said.
Taka entered the apartment, turning to her as she closed the door. "I can't stay very long; my ride is downstairs waiting for me." He said. "It's our last night before we ship out and the guys wanted to go out. I tagged along and talked the driver into stopping here so I could drop off a note for you and have a quick word with Keisuke."
"No one's here but Miaka and me right now." Tasuki stated before Miaka could reply.
Taka gave him a narrow-eyed look. "Where's Chichiri?"
"Off on a tour of Tokyo with Keisuke, Yui and Tetsuya."
"And you didn't want to go along and take in the big bad city?" Taka asked with a forced smile. "Surprising for an adventurous guy like you."
"I got to see some of it. We went to see Miaka's ma."
Taka smirked. "Wow. Talk about being thrown in the fire."
Tasuki shrugged. "It went okayy. She makes good brownies."
"You're leaving for America tomorrow, Taka?" Miaka asked quickly, drawing both men's attention back to her.
"Yes." He affirmed, his demeanor softening. "That's why I'm here. You were right about not leaving with things the way they were between us. I wanted to apologize for what I said on the phone-" he glanced at Tasuki briefly, "and I wanted to let you know that no matter where you go, I will always love you and protect you, Miaka, even if it has to be from a distance." Despite his best effort to remain composed, tears stung his eyes, and his voice broke on the last few words.
Tasuki made a soft sound and turned his back on the sight of the other man's misery. It was impossible to stay angry with someone going through the very worst kind of heartbreak, especially when that someone was- had been- his friend. The very least he could do was to keep quiet and let Taka say his piece.
Miaka's eyes were awash in tears. As he had so many times in the past, Taka reached for her hand, turned it over and pressed a lingering kiss into the palm. "I'm so sorry. You deserve more than-"
"Then don't go! Give me a chance to do better!" He urged softly. "You've made your point about me not considering your needs, and I'm willing to work hard at having a long distance relationship if your heart is set on staying here in Japan!" His head lifted, and Miaka saw his gaze fix upon her other hand and her newly bared finger. "You could at least be wearing my ring while you're deciding what to do." He added, with a reproachful look.
She gently withdrew her hand from his. "Taka, you are and will always be an important part of my life. I love you for everything you've been to me, but that love is changing along with me, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise. That's why your ring is no longer on my finger."
He shook his head. "How can you say you love me and then want to break up?"
"Because love changes with time. And I'm not the same person I was at fifteen."
"From the time we met, we wanted to be together!"
"Yes, and we were so busy trying to be together that we were blinded to what makes a relationship work every day." Miaka replied softly. "Do you remember what career path I've chosen to pursue at University?"
Taka's mouth opened, then closed. His guilty expression convicted him.
"I want to be a teacher. You'd have remembered if you were listening and interested."
"I had a lot on my mind!" He defended himself. "And when we started dating you didn't seem that serious about having a career after college."
"I told you I was when I decided on my major, but I guess you've forgotten." She replied sadly. "I'm not the single-minded girl you first met, Taka. I've grown up, and I have been thinking about things. It's occurred to me that maybe we're not meant to be, and I have wondered what would have happened if we hadn't met, and if we would have gotten together if you hadn't been influenced by our past connection. Without those memories, don't you think it's possible you could have fallen in love with another girl?"
"I can't say for sure that I wouldn't have if I hadn't met you." The reborn warrior admitted after a long silence. "But we did meet, and I refuse to believe that it could've been otherwise! Why would I have been allowed to become a man of this world if we weren't destined to be together?"
"In your previous life, you said you'd always watch over me." Miaka replied softly. "You wanted me to be happy."
Taka shook his head. "You laid down your life to get me here! You gave yourself to me! Are you saying now that those things shouldn't have happened?"
"No!" She exclaimed. "Everything happened as it should have! I will never regret loving you or anything that happened to me because of it!" Her tremulous smile held tenderness. "All of those events helped shape me into the woman I am today. I am a far better person for having loved and been loved by Taka Sukunami."
"Dammit!" Tasuki burst out, turning around to face them. "You were-and are-like a brother to me, Taka! I never thought this could be...I never wanted to hurt ya…"
Taka turned to meet his gaze, his own eyes hard with accusation. "Forgive me if I find that a bit hard to believe, Tasuki."
The wing seishi didn't look away. "I know it is, but I swear it's th' truth!"
Taka stepped toward him. "Then explain to me why a guy who dislikes women so much would let himself fall in love with his best friend's girl?"
"That's most women, not all women," Tasuki corrected. "And as for my fallin' in love with Miaka…hell, I think you of all people can understand how that happened! Once it does, it's not somethin' you can ignore or turn off, no matter how hard ya try."
"Yeah, I can vouch for that." Taka acknowledged with a hard smile. "But I don't understand why you'd go after Miaka when you know she's mine! You used to be an honorable guy. Is it an aftereffects of that spell? Are you still getting lust confused with love? Or maybe still trying to best Tamahome by getting his woman?"
"Taka, why would you say that?" Miaka cried.
"Because with a guy like this, it's entirely possible he doesn't get it!" Taka snapped. 'That's right Fang Boy, get mad, beat me to a pulp-or better yet, burn me to a crisp! Just like the jerk you are!'
Tasuki's fists were clenching and unclenching. But surprisingly, he kept a tight rein on his temper. "Are ya askin' me those things because ya want to protect her, or because ya can't deal with the fact that she could be happier with someone else?"
The coolly worded question left Taka floundering for a comeback- he'd expected the usual fight first, talk later from the bandit.
"Taka, Tasuki was ready to walk. He was going to leave! I was the one who pushed, who asked him-"
Miaka's voice cut out, suppressed by sorrow as he whirled to face her, face pale and set in forbidding lines.
"Asked him what, Miaka?"
She sighed. "If he would kiss me."
"Why the hell would you do that?"
"Because it was the only way! I had to know!"
"Had to know?" Taka asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"Exactly how I felt about Tasuki." Miaka admitted wearily. "And how he felt about me. And I got my answers. Given that and the situation I'm considering, it would be foolish and wrong to pretend those feelings aren't there."
As her eyes challenged him to think and accept the truth, Taka turned away bowed his head. He had long suspected Miaka harbored some unresolved feelings about Tasuki. He'd figured they'd fade with distance and time, but when she'd continued to talk about him as if he were still in their lives, he'd found he could no longer tolerate any mention of the book. Dealing with his past life and living with the memory of Tamahome as his legacy was tough enough. But he could see now that refusing to talk about it had been a big mistake. In avoiding the subject of his 'rivals', he had only alienated Miaka and postponed dealing with the problem.
"Taka...please understand that my going there is the only way to determine the right decision for all of us. My heart is telling me that, and you know better than anyone that following my heart is something I have to do."
Yes, he did know her. Though Miaka looked anguished, she was resolute about undertaking this mission. Taka stared at her as his mind struggled to come to terms with the gut-wrenching possibility that their romance was truly over.
'So she's made up her mind to try. To force her to stay here would be a mistake. I could go awol and follow her to Konan, but that'd probably make her more determined to stay there. If I just let her go for the month, let her see what it's going to be like, she might get that place out of her system once and for all. She's forgotten how tough life can be there. And spending that much time with Fang Boy, he's bound to screw up, and she's bound to realize that he's not for her...'
"I do understand that for now, you've chosen Tasuki and that world over me." He stated, careful to keep his tone free of rancor. Reaching for her left wrist, he continued, "but that doen't mean I've given up on us, my love. As long as there's no other ring on this hand, I'll have hope in my heart that you'll come back to me, and where you belong."
Miaka's fingers curled into her palms and she sighed deeply. There was a time where sentiments like the one he'd just uttered would have had her falling into Taka's arms and his bed, but no longer. The desire for that kind of intimacy was absent; she only felt immense sorrow in having to hurt a fine and good man with whom she would always share a connection as priestess and seishi, if not as man and wife.
She needed to make this break for the sake of honesty and fairness; this way he'd be free to pursue happiness with another. The realization that she was actually hoping for Taka to find another woman in her absence was conclusive proof of the changing landscape between their hearts. Even if things didn't work out in Konan and she returned to this world, things would never be the same. It was better to face up to that now, rather than after a marriage ceremony that she knew really shouldn't take place.
Her free hand rose, briefly touched his cheek. "Dearest Taka, I wish you every success in your new assignment. Please be careful and take extra good care of yourself."
Her expression was one of compassion and regret. The hand that touched him retreated to rest on Tasuki's arm.
It was too much. Despite what he'd said about letting her go, the tone of finality in Miaka's farewell shattered his calm facade. Without warning and without thought, Taka reached out and yanked her up against the wall of his chest.
In the next second, his mouth slammed down upon hers.
Miaka struggled, but his fingers only dug deeper into the tender flesh of her upper arms, holding her firmly in place. The only defense she could muster was to clamp her lips together when his tongue sought to part them. At her resistence, his mouth grew more demanding, his grasp on her hovering on the brink between desperation and cruelty. She moaned in protest as her lips gave way under the brutal pressure of his. Her head was swimming, her mouth hurt, his plundering tongue was choking her, she couldn't breathe...
Suddenly, she was free of the hands that were restraining her. Stumbling backwards, drawing in gasping gulps of air, she took in the scene before her with eyes gone wide with shock. Tasuki's celestial mark was in full prominence as he pressed his forearm against Taka's throat. He also had one of Taka's arms twisted behind his back; the angle of the hold made it impossible for the dark-haired man to escape without the risk of having the arm broken or having his shoulder dislocated.
"You okay, Mi-chan?" He asked tightly.
"Yes," She managed to croak. "Fine."
With a thunderous expression, Tasuki turned his full attention to his captive. "Just what th' hell were ya thinkin'? Did ya really think a dumbass stunt like that was gonna change her mind?"
Because of the pressure on his windpipe, Taka could only give a slight, negative shake of his head.
"I'm glad ya realize it! Open the door, Miaka!"
She did as he asked, hoping that Taka wouldn't be harmed apart from being bodily thrown out of the apartment. To her surprise, Tasuki released Taka the second the door was opened and moved to her side, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders as he spoke.
"Taka, outta respect for you an' our friendship, I'm lettin' ya walk out of here instead of tossin' ya out on your ass! You got every right to be hurt an' pissed off about all this, but feelin' those things don't give ya the right to abuse Miaka! If ya do it again, I ain't gonna hold back!"
Cold grey eyes met fiery amber ones with the impact of a blade striking an anvil. But Taka's hard eyed scowl softened to a grimace of regret the moment his gaze turned from Tasuki's to the woman they both loved. She was looking at him almost as if he were a stranger, and worse, a stranger she felt sorry for. It cut him deeply, and precipitated an intense need to atone for his misstep.
Dropping to his knees, he touched his forehead to the floor.
"I'm so sorry, Miaka. Please forgive me, I was very wrong to do that to you."
Before she could respond, he got to his feet and strode out the door, leaving it wide open behind him.
After a few shell-shocked moments, Miaka went to close it. Leaving her hand on the doorknob, she listened to the distant thud of elevator doors opening and closing, all the while suppressing the old urge to chase after Taka. To do so wouldn't accomplish anything but to prolong the misery, and to undermine her decision by sending a mixed signal.
"He's gone." She said in a small voice, as she finally shut the door and swung around to face her waiting warrior. "I just wish there was another-"
"I shoulda kicked his ass!" Tasuki interrupted, glaring at her bruised looking mouth and the reddened patch of skin beside it where chin stubble had rubbed her raw.
She touched her face. "I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me to save his butt!"
"I'm not lying!"
"So he hasn't forced ya like that before?"
"Never, I swear! That was the first time."
"Okay." Tasuki's expression softened to grudging compassion. "Guess it goes to show that he's still a Suzaku warrior. He's not givin' up!"
She bit her lip. "I was shocked that he let himself lose control. Taka's always been so disciplined."
Tasuki shrugged. "That was before he found out you could love me that way. He wanted to prove that you didn't. Don't like what he did, but I can't blame him for tryin'. " Turning away, he added, "I felt like that a lotta times watchin' you with him. It hurts like hell wantin' what you know you don't have."
Miaka regarded him tearfully. The impending loss of a friendship was something that was very hard to take for a man who prized having a good friend above everything else. She was prepared to have Taka hate her...but she wouldn't stop praying and hoping that the rift between Tasuki and Taka would be healed by time.
Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, hugging him tightly. "I'm so proud of you for not losing your temper."
A ferocious laugh ripped through her seishi's body, a signal that his emotions were still running high. "It's a good thing he didn't try gropin' ya or he woulda been dead meat!"
Her fingers lightly caressed the flat, muscled plane of his stomach as she spoke."Grope is kind of an ugly word."
"What else would ya call it?" Tasuki asked after a long pause, sounding much less belligerent.
"That's a good question. I don't really know…"
Her fingers lazily drifted up to his chest. Muscles flexed and tautened under her touch. When her fingertips strayed over his hardened nipples, Tasuki gave a violent shudder and an emphatic curse. Thinking that he was displeased, she started to pull her hands away, only to have them grabbed and put firmly back in place.
"You liked that?" She asked.
"Yeah." His voice was low and rough.
"Then...should I do it again?"
"Yes, dammit!" He gasped as her fingers brushed the outer perimeters of the intended targets. "Yes!"
"Then keep still for a moment, okay?"
It didn't occur to him to disagree. "'Kay."
After grabbing two fistfuls of his tucked-in t-shirt, she tugged it free of the waistband of his jeans.
"Whoa, Green Eyes!" Despite the bandit seishi's protest, he didn't try to stop her. He even helped her by raising his arms when she pulled the shirt up over his head, and snickered loudly when he heard her toss it back into the living room. "Ya don't know what you're startin'...probably ain't a good idea."
"I do know, and it's a great idea." She told him.
She loved how his breathing quickened and his muscles went taut beneath her fingers as they explored every sensitive inch of his abdomen. Gaining confidence in her power to arouse him, she playfully danced her fingertips up his rib cage, and then flattened her hands over the smooth expanse of his impressive pectorals.
Stroking lightly, she pinpointed their small, sensitive peaks with the tips of her fingers. He tipped his head back as she traced and caressed them in circular movements, and exhaled her name with a groan. In response, she pressed her lips to his skin, inhaling deeply. The scent of his body was heady and arousing, and gave her the sudden urge to taste him. Her mouth opened and her tongue briefly darted out to sample the smoothness of his back, as her hands glided downward to the front of his jeans.
This proved to be more than Tasuki could take. Without warning, he captured her wandering hands in his, turned in the circle of her arms, and pulled her up so close to his body that his arousal was no longer a secret to her. After securing her arms around his waist, he cradled her neck between his palms, his thumbs gently stroking the underside of her jawline. The motion was unsteady, and Miaka couldn't help feeling a primal rush of satisfaction that she had affected him that way.
"What are ya doin'?"
She smiled. "Baka! Isn't it kind of obvious that I'm trying to get you in a romantic mood?"
His laugh sounded pained. "Ah, and here I thought ya were tryin' to distract me from bein' mad!"
"That too," she said agreeably, placing her hands on his chest. Before he could reply, she leaned in to caress the warm hollow just above his collarbone with closed lips, then pressed a line of lush kisses down to the middle of his sternum. Tasuki's hands dropped to her hips, where their grip reflexively tightened as her lips and tongue left a moist trail upon his heated skin.
"Mi-chan…are ya sure ya want to be doin' this after what just happened?"
"More than ever." She whispered, stopping to look up at him. "As you said, it's time to accept things for what they are and move forward."
"But -"
She stayed his protest with a lifted hand. "Yui-chan told me today that when I love someone, I love them with every single part of me, and she was right." She smiled into his eyes. "I already loved you in mind and heart, Tasuki. All that's left is for me to love you with my body."
At her words, the warmth in his eyes flared to passionate heat. Miaka closed her eyes and an inarticulate sound of pleasure slipped from her throat as their mouths made contact.
At the insistent nudge of his lips, hers parted, allowing their tongues to meet in a sweet dance; the promise of heaven in a kiss. Seconds became minutes as his mouth took control of hers, then drifted sensuously from her lips to her jaw line and then down the arch of her throat. She clung to him and tilted her head back to facilitate his caresses while he nuzzled one side of her neck and then the other, and her hands clutched the small of his back for support as his hands slid up to cradle the undersides of her breasts.
"I always return a favor, Green Eyes."
His voice was a sensual growl. Passion detonated in the pit of her stomach as his thumbs brushed over her nipples. She arched into his touch as he tenderly repeated the gesture, and moaned his name in frantic approval as his thumbs made yet another erotic pass. Desire and need pulsed as his erection pressed tightly against her. Sharp disappointment followed, as his hands left her breasts to delve into the thick mass of hair behind her ears and he took a step back. Burning for greater intimacies, she closed her eyes and submitted to the warm palms cupping her face.
"Miaka. Look at me." Tasuki commanded.
Her eyes met his. His gaze was dark and intense.
"This is last call. There's no goin' back, so if ya got any doubts, speak up now."
"The only doubt I have," She replied, staring back at him with equal intensity, "is why I'm still waiting for a certain handsome and powerful ex-bandit leader to get serious."
The ex-bandit leader's grin made an appearance, all fangs and seduction. "Well then, it wouldn't be right for me to keep ya waitin' any longer, would it?" Sealing her fate with a kiss, he caught her up into his arms and carried her off to the bedroom.
To be continued …
Thank you so much for reading my story. Reviews/concrit are welcomed and appreciated.
Warm Wishes,
KittyLynne