The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story
By: KittyLynne
Disclaimer: The story and characters of Fushigi Yûgi belong to Watase Yû, bless her incredibly creative soul. Any elements or characterizations not depicted in the canon series do belong to me, and may not be replicated without my written consent.
Author's Note: Chapter rating: 15+ for language and adult conversations. Additional author's notes at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 23-Crossing Over
This quiet and solitude were just what he had been craving.
The drone of voices from the living room ceased as Chichiri shut the door to his makeshift sanctuary. After a quick, curious perusal of Tetsuya's twilight-darkened bedroom, he leaned his shakajou against a wall, and reached inside the folds of his kasa for the items he needed: a stick of incense, some simple onyx holders, and seven white candles. He placed the candles and incense at strategic points around the room, then lit them with a wave of his hand.
As the flickering glow of candlelight entwined with the subtle scent of pine, the monk clambered onto the bed with an appreciative sigh. Of all the wondrous things he had seen in Miaka's world, he admired their extravagant version of the futon the most. This cushiony thing called a mattress was preferable by far to the flimsy, rather threadbare prayer mat he used in his travels, and the massive thickness of it gave him a feeling of unparalleled security. If he ended up levitating during his recitation of prayers- as he usually did -this cushion was certain to prevent a bruising fall on his backside if his concentration happened to get broken.
Smiling a little at the thought of past mishaps, the mage removed his mask and then assumed his usual position for meditation; head slightly bowed, back straight, legs crossed at the shins, and hands balanced on his knees with palms up. Once he felt comfortable that he was in the proper position, he closed his eye, and then, while breathing deeply and evenly, began the arduous process of emptying his mind.
It was going to take an extended, studied effort on his part not to use the time to reflect upon the startling proceedings of the past two days. Miaka's surprising return, the break-up of Taka and Miaka and the new relationship she'd forged with Tasuki, the puzzling things Tasuki had heard about their world; all of these things had clamored for attention in his thoughts until a simple, playful embrace had captured his full attention.
'It meant nothing.' He told himself, as the sparkling image of a curvaceous ex-priestess lingered in his mind. 'I am not going to think about blue eyes, silky hair and soft lips. She's a friend, nothing more. If anything, it's infatuation manifesting itself at its most primal level. I will forget about all of it, as of now. I will attend to my higher purpose.'
Reciting the mantra was reassuring, but following through with it was easier said than done. Although given in jest, it had been a real kiss. Yui had administered it with a gentle, wholesome sensuality that had- after the initial shock had worn off- inspired a powerful response from him. Even now, it took ridiculously little effort to recall the taste of her lips, the brief touches of her tongue, and the entrancing feel of the lush, womanly body that had pressed against him…
It was no use to chant mantras, Chichiri thought glumly, if he wasn't going to be honest with himself. Might as well admit right now that he wasn't capable of forgetting or dismissing a kiss from a woman that he liked, much less one who was appealing to him physically.
As Tasuki had intimated, he did have 'a little thing' for their feisty and tenderhearted Miaka. There was no denying the hope of redemption through loving and being loved by a woman who loved completely and unconditionally. But forging an unbreakable friendship with the Priestess of Suzaku had been more than sufficient to bring about that kind of redemption on its own merits. A strenuous regimen of meditation and prayer had enabled him to channel the more inappropriate feelings he harbored for his priestess into a purely spiritual love that was extremely satisfying to his soul, if not his body. Once he achieved that state, dealing with the hugs and tender touches that Miaka occasionally gifted him with had no longer been a problem. Although it would be difficult, he was equally determined to mold the carnality the former Priestess of Seiryu had stirred within him into appropriate feelings of warm friendship.
Yui's embrace had gotten through his initial defenses because he had been given no warning and no time to prepare himself for what Miaka would have termed a 'good, deep kiss'. For all of his magic, cool logic and god given gifts, he was first and foremost a man, with all the flaws and foibles that condition entailed. To berate himself for having a normal masculine reaction to a kiss from a beautiful young woman would only drain him of much needed positive energy. To accept and embrace the memory of that kiss while putting it into its proper context, was to regain energy. Envy had no place here. Far better was it to foster a friendship than to succumb to the temptations of giving in to physical attraction.
The monk's mouth tightened with resolve.
The irony of that lesson had not escaped him.
No one had forced him to take the path of chastity- he had chosen it and welcomed the sacrifices it entailed, knowing each one made brought him closer to atoning for the tragic deaths of his fiancée' and best friend. The study and practice of magic was rewarding and fulfilling; wasting his resources in fruitless romantic pursuit would be a betrayal of his priniciples, and would make a mockery of the self-discipline he had achieved in the practice of The Way. He needed to be a strong guide for his friends, and he would be.
Chichiri bowed his head and offered a prayer, putting more fervor into the ritual than he had felt or shown for many months.
'I beg you, Suzaku; please help your humble servant. If I am unable to focus on this task, I won't acquire enough power to return Miaka, myself, and the others to Konan so that we can carry out your will. I beseech you to strengthen my spirit, my mind, and my body. Help me to prevail against temptation and to gain enlightenment. Please show me the way!'
After waiting for one hundred beats of his heart, the monk gripped his prayer beads and recited a complex, arcane mantra that Taiits-kun had taught him. The sweet smell of incense wafted around him, aiding in his contemplation of the opaque vapors that were blocking his inner eye. As he finished the recitation, he remained motionless, feeling a kind of peace not unlike the moment before falling into a restful sleep.
Slowly, gradually, he allowed his body to sink into relaxation, while leaving his mind open to enlightenment. The vapors began to swirl and dance, teasing him into a heightened awareness with feather-like brushes. He concentrated on weaving them together and then drawing them as closely around his body as he would a warm, fluffy blanket.
He was ready.
A crackling roll of thunder resounded through his body. Almost instantaneously, scarlet-hued rays of light burst forth, slicing the vapors that surrounded him into wispy ribbons; the beams streamed into the deepest, darkest recesses of his mind, before coalescing into the grandiose image of a phoenix.
With a single, mighty downsweep of outstretched wings, the manifestation of Suzaku blew away the last of the monk's mental haze to reveal a glittering, scroll-like path that rolled and coiled through a dazzling celestial landscape.
After bowing deeply in thanks and supplication, Chichiri took to the trail, rejoicing as he felt the wings of Suzaku propelling his chi to its greatest heights.
Everyone seated in the living room was having a good time, with the notable exception of Tasuki, who was pouting. Ever since she and Yui had emerged from their little retreat, Miaka had been completely ignoring him.
It was driving him crazy.
As the others continued to converse, he sat back, folded his arms over his chest, and scowled at the good two feet of sofa space that separated him from his Priestess. That separation, along with her ramrod straight posture as she perched on the end of the sofa cushion, shouted louder than words that he was very much out of her favor. She'd figured out that denying him her attention or even the briefest of touches would punish him as nothing else could.
And so, as the seconds ticked by, and Miaka continued to pretend she was oblivious to his presence, Tasuki's smoldering frustration reached the boiling point. He made sure to keep it under control,for as badly as he wanted to force the issue, hard experience had taught him that losing his temper with her would make things that much worse. He needed to stay cool-headed and cunning in order to devise a suitable counterattack. With that in mind, the ex-bandit pondered his situation from all angles, considering and rejecting several plans until a suitably devious course of action finally occurred to him.
Exercising unusual patience, he waited for an opening, which came when Miaka responded with forced enthusiasm and unnecessary length to a question from Tetsuya. While her attention was focused elsewhere, he casually stretched out his long legs, and then inched a foot sideways until his the toe of his boot nudged her foot.
He suppressed a snicker as Miaka gave a visible twitch, but didn't hold back a half-mocking sigh when she pointedly moved said foot away with nary a glance.
'Too damn bad, Green Eyes. I ain't givin' up so easily.'
He waited a few moments, then tried the stretching routine again, but this time she anticipated his move and thwarted it by crossing her legs, taking his target completely out of range before their feet could make contact. Undeterred, he shifted his legs to bring his shin close to her calf. This time his target slid sideways as she crossed her legs the opposite way, never breaking stride in her conversation, yet still managing to enforce the separation between them.
A wry smile ghosted over the ex-bandit's lips. 'She's a stubborn lil' cuss…which is just gonna make it that much more sweet when I win.'
He moved closer, she inched away. He waited, then moved again-and so did she, putting even greater distance between them, which, of course, was exactly what he had wanted her to do. After enough time had passed that she appeared to be relaxing, he slid sideways, boldly spreading his legs so that his thigh pressed against her hip. As expected Miaka tried to sever the intimate contact, but couldn't. So intent had she been on keeping him away, she had failed to notice that he'd crowded her into a corner, right up against the curved arm of the sofa.
There was nowhere for her to go but forward, and his next move eliminated that option. Stretching out one booted leg in front of her foot ensured that escape without tripping -or at the very least, making significant bodily contact with him- would be impossible. A smirk of satisfaction lifted one corner of the redhead's mouth as he took note of his prey'slook of chagrin. H'eh, heh, heh…ya have to look at me now, Miaka…even if it's just to tell me to go t' hell!'
Confident of victory, he dared a cautious glance at the others. Keisuke seemed oblivious to the ongoing struggle on the couch, but Tetsuya was openly gawking and Yui appeared to be hiding a grin. Sensing an ally, Tasuki subtly waggled his eyebrows at her. Sure enough, the blonde gave a laugh that quickly changed to a cough as soon as questioning glances were directed her way.
Miaka shot a suspicious look at her best friend, but pride and a streak of stubbornness kept her from making any comment. She was well aware that she was being deliberately outmaneuvered by the man seated next to her, and therefore wasn't surprised that Yui had seen it too. Even more aggravating than knowing she'd been tricked, however, was knowing that she didn't mind it half as much as she should have under the circumstances.
In the past, she'd found it impossible to stay angry with Tasuki for long…and doubly so now, because she desperately craved his touch. Telling herself that he needed a lesson in sensitivity was the only thing that kept her from giving in to the temptation of physical contact. He had taken Keisuke's side without so much as asking her for an opinion! How could the seishi who had always made of point of defending her feelings now ignore them so blatantly?
'Is it really fair to think that, though?' Another part of her mind argued. 'What if Yui's right? How can I fault Tasuki for wanting to please my family? Doesn't that prove how sensitive he is?'
Immersed in thought, Miaka barely heard her sibling excusing himself to get ready for their trip, and was completely unaware of the awkward silence that followed his departure.
After intercepting a meaningful look from Tasuki, Yui turned to Tetsuya. "I think we should go help Keisuke."
Looking as uncertain as if he were being asked to leave Miaka to the tender mercies of a wolf, Tetsuya reluctantly agreed. As soon as they had left the room, Tasuki spoke.
"Hey Mi-chan, whatcha thinkin' about?"
She jerked in reaction, eyes widening as she took in the fact that they were suddenly alone. "Wh-where are Yui and Tetsuya?"
"They went to help your brother pack up his stuff." The wing seishi responded, looking her straight in the eye. "Ya got a problem with that?"
'Why would you think I have a problem with that and not you?' Miaka thought resentfully. The sarcastic response trembled on the edge of her tongue, then was lost in a gasp as Tasuki abruptly leaned towards her. He smirked as she scrunched herself up against the arm of the sofa, then reached straight past her to grab a folded paper sitting on the small table beside her.
"Y'know, I think maybe I should dispose of this little message before a certain someone finds an' reads it." He remarked, casually sitting back and holding it up between two of his fingers. "We wouldn't want Yui gettin' in trouble after all she did for us, am I right?"
Miaka's mouth opened in dismay. She had completely forgotten about Yui's note, something which would have definitely rekindled Keisuke's anger should he have happened to have read it. "Yes. Thank you." She murmured grudgingly, watching him tuck the note into a small pouch hidden on the underside of his belt. "Keisuke's going to be uptight enough about us being here alone without knowing that Yui masterminded the entire thing!"
"He ain't the only uptight person around here!" Tasuki declared, as he suddenly turned and leaned in towards her. "Just how long are ya gonna stay mad at me, Miaka?"
This was what she'd been afraid of; he'd caught her unawares with his blunt question, and his nearness was acting like an intoxicant, robbing her of an answer, coherent thought, speech, and the power to flee. And judging by the sly smile he was giving her, the man darn well knew it!
She turned her head away. "Stop looking at me like that! You're making me feel like a bird in a cage!"
"Too bad!" Tasuki snapped, his laid back manner vanishing in an instant. "It's your fault for holdin' me off!"
Miaka glanced his way, and felt a sharp pang of regret at seeing the hurt in his expression. But she couldn't give in, or he'd never understand. "No, it's your fault! You put us into this situation!" She retorted.
His frown deepened at her emphatic response. "An' just how did I do that?"
"By ignoring me when I made my feelings clear about Keisuke's little announcement! Even worse, you totally agreed with him! How could you take his side and not mine? Don't you know how much that hurt me?"
Amber eyes sparked with indignation. "This ain't about me takin' sides!"
"Then what's it about?" She shot back. "Explain it to me!"
Though Tasuki was clearly upset, he kept his voice low and steady. "Look, Mi-chan. I know what Keisuke says about lettin' ya live your own life, but seein' how happy he's actin' about goin' with us, it's clear to me your brother's havin' one helluva hard time dealin' with the idea of you goin' back to Konan-an' lettin' ya go with someone like me! Can't ya see that lettin' him check things out for himself is th' best compensation I can give to him in return for takin' his little sister away from him?"
Miaka stared at him. Tendrils of shame unfurled, constricting her heart. Though her anger at the situation and leaving the table had been justified, she had made a huge error in assuming she understood what Tasuki's point of view was on the matter.
"I wasn't for it at first, y'know, but then I started thinkin' that if I could show Keisuke that I'm a dependable, trustworthy guy, it'd be one less thing for him to hafta worry about." He continued. "Even when you're mad as hell at him, it's obvious how much the guy means to ya, Mi-chan. That's why I didn't think you'd be all that upset about his goin' along with us."
At hearing that, the last of her resentment melted away. Tasuki might have made a mistake, but he'd made it for the right reasons.
"Normally, I wouldn't get this upset." She admitted. "But you know, I was already mad at Keisuke, and I was disappointed in his hypocritical approach. Just yesterday he was lecturing me about how I needed to work harder on sticking up for myself, and making my own decisions, but when I try, he ignores me and sticks his nose in where it's not wanted!" She sighed heavily. "That's the way it was with Taka too. It seems like everyone has had something to say about my future, but no one cares to find out what I think."
The frown on Tasuki's face showed that he did not like the comparison. "It's gonna be different now, I swear! Do an' say whatever ya want, an' I'll listen!"
"What matters most to me right now is apologizing to you." Giving in to the desire for contact, she cupped his cheek within her palm. "You had the noblest of intentions in saying what you did, and I'm very sorry for jumping to conclusions and getting angry. Will you forgive me?"
Tasuki's lips curved upwards. "Tell ya what, Mi-chan. As long as ya can put up with me, I got no problems forgivin' ya for anythin'."
Relieved that their fight was over, Miaka allowed herself to revel in the touch of warm lips against her skin as her warrior turned his head to nuzzle her palm. When he pulled back to look at her, the unfettered happiness shining in his expression brought a hint of moisture to her eyes. To think a mere touch from her could bring him this much pleasure...it was humbling.
"I think I owe you another apology, Tasuki." She confessed, dropping her hand to her lap.
He reached out to tug on a lock of her hair. "Ya do? Why?"
"For underestimating you." She answered softly. "I'm sorry for never realizing the whole truth of who you are in the time we spent together in the past. I'm embarrassed that so many of the wonderful things that you've done and said in the past two days have come as a complete surprise to me. I should have seen and appreciated those qualities in you a very long time ago- "
As tears threatened, she broke off and hung her head. A battle-roughened hand placed beneath her chin gently forced it up again.
"The reason you didn't find stuff out about me before was because I was avoidin' lettin' ya get to know me that well," Tasuki stated. "An' I bet that the same goes for you. I'm sure there's lotsa stuff ya haven't told me about yourself and this world yet. Right?"
She could sense that he was leading up to asking her about how she came to his world; as her hand fell away from his face, she struggled to remain composed, every muscle in her body stretching tight with the effort. "I guess most women like to keep a few secrets," she replied in a cautious tone. "I'm no different."
His gaze was direct and uncompromising. "Didn't ya tell me that we shouldn't have secrets from each other?"
She couldn't help but feel guilty and more than a bit hypocritical, despite having what she felt was good, solid reasons to keep quiet about the book's origins. There was no solid proof the Universe of the Four Gods was more than a spell residing in a book, and until she had found it, it made no sense for her to share that news with her seishi.
She'd seen Tasuki's reflection. That was enough to convince her that he existed.
"I did say that," she admitted. "but it has to be the right time, and now is not that time."
"How about I kiss it out of ya?"
The suggestion dripped with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. A shiver went through her as she lowered her gaze to the well-shaped, firm lips they both knew held the power to make her say yes. "I'm really hoping you won't."
The former bandit let go of her chin, but only so he could imprison her with an arm on either side of her body as he leaned in close. "Gimme one good reason I shouldn't!"
His scent wrapped around her, caused heat to rise within her. She fought it, tamped it down, but the rawness in her voice gave proof of the struggle. "I'll give you two!"
His eyes narrowed. "Okay, let's hear 'em."
"The first is that it's best to have that talk back in Konan. There are too many distractions here."
"An' the second?"
"I've just been through an emotional ringer." Her shoulders sagged as she spoke, unconsciously emphasizing the point. "I need a break from 'big discussions'."
Tasuki frowned. His gaze lowered to her lips, which had parted in entreaty, then lifted to meet hers. "So, you're givin' me your word of honor that th' next time we have this talk, you're gonna tell me whatever I wanna know?" He asked. She nodded fervently. "All right, Green Eyes. Patience definitely ain't my strong point, but I'll wait."
She relaxed and leaned against the back of the sofa. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He half-smiled. "Too bad, though. I was lookin' forward to havin' a smoo-"
The rest of the sentence stayed in his throat as his necklace was seized within a feminine grasp and his head was pulled down to hers.
The kiss that followed was long, deep, and scorching.
When their lips finally parted, Tasuki found himself grinning like an idiot. "Whoa, Mi-chan! What was that for?"
"Proof." She responded smugly.
"Of what?"
"That I'll never, ever be too tired to kiss you."
He made a gesture of disbelief. "Right! Ya say that now…"
"Doubting my words? For shame, Tasu-chan! Didn't we agree that your priestess knows what she's talking about?"
"Guess I forgot." Despite his chastened tone, her warrior was struggling to hold back a laugh. "I suppose I'm gonna get a severe tongue-lashin' now, huh?"
The comment was meant as a joke, but Tasuki's grin faded at seeing the passionate look it provoked.
"Why yes, my love." His priestess murmured throatily. "I really think you will."
His response was a muffled groan as their mouths connected.
Time passed, during which Yui emerged from hiding to investigate the peculiar silence that had fallen in the living room. Turning the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks and gawked for several seconds at the passionately entwined couple on the sofa, then turned and hurried back to the bedroom. Tetsuya and Keisuke were enmeshed in bickering over about what constituted a 'packing necessity', but broke off their disagreement when she entered the room.
"Are things going pretty badly for Tasuki?" Keisuke asked. Almost hopefully, Yui thought with an inner smile. "It doesn't happen often, but things can get pretty dang ugly when Miaka gets mad."
"Everything seems fine," Yui assured him. "I think they've…um… managed to work out their differences." She stifled a smile at her friend's sour expression, and tried to ignore the inquiring brow that had suddenly appeared over Tetsuya's sunglasses. "Um…I think it's safe to say that Miaka isn't angry with him any more."
"Since I'm responsible for the problem, so maybe I should go out there and help smooth things over," Keisuke went on as if she hadn't spoken. "With all of us living together for the next month, I don't want there to be a lot of bad feelings floating around."
"Don't do it, man!" Tetsuya advised bluntly. "The best thing you can do is to stay in here and keep your nose out of their business!"
Keisuke shot his friend a dirty look, then relented. "I suppose you're right. It wouldn't be a good idea to stir up trouble with Tasuki before we leave." He looked down at the bed where a variety of articles lay, and then picked up a hair dryer. "Okay, now this is a necessity! Don't you think so, Yui?"
Yui simply shook her head and laughed.
"What a moron!" Tetsuya grabbed the dryer and held up its three pronged cord in front of his roommate's face. "Like right, it's necessary- as long as you're planning on inventing electricity while you're there!"
"Oh yeah!" Tasuki crowed, as Miaka finally brought an end to his 'punishment', which both of them had enjoyed immensely. "I'm the luckiest bastard in the world! My woman's never too tired for fun!"
They leaned back, sitting hip to hip. Miaka smiled at her seishi as he draped an arm around her shoulders. The gesture confirmed her theory that Tasuki was getting more and more comfortable with physical expressions of his affection, a state of affairs that made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
"Don't you mean in two worlds?" She asked, laughing as he stuck out his tongue at her. "You know, that reminds me-I can't wait for you to give me a personal tour of the Stronghold! I didn't really get to see very much of it on my last visit..."
To her surprise, the joking comment was greeted with silence. An inquiring glance killed her teasing smile; not only was Tasuki's fanged grin nowhere to be seen, his expression had turned forbidding.
It might have frightened her, if the reason for it wasn't so clear. "I seriously am looking forward to going back, Tasuki. There aren't any bad feelings."
"I believe ya." He acknowledged. "But you're gonna be gettin' a hell of a lot better reception than ya got the last time! It pisses me off whenever I think about how th' guys acted and what Eiken was tryin' t'do!" His arm tightened its grip on her. "I know for a fact Kouji feels real bad about the whole thing, an' he's probably even more eager to make it up t'ya than I am! Even if I ain't around, he'll make sure ya get treated right!"
Miaka covered one of his clenched hands with both of hers. "That's very nice to hear, but as far as I'm concerned all of it is in the past. Just let it go."
"But-"
"It's going to be okay!" She insisted. "The only reason I was treated that way is because Eiken had the tessen and ruled those men without mercy! I can't and don't blame them for being afraid for their lives! And Kouji is a good person…I could see what Eiken was trying to do disgusted him, and that he would have helped me if he could." She smiled. "I'd be willing to bet he would have come back for me if Hotohori and Nuriko hadn't waylaid him first."
Though his eyes narrowed, her seishi said nothing.
"Come on, lighten up! It's all good. Nothing happened to me, the guys said they were sorry, you have the tessen, we're together now and Eiken's dead, so justice has been served." She gave him a cheerful grin. "Although if any of the guys would feel guilty enough to want to kiss up to me, I wouldn't say no to a couple of yummy meat pies!"
At that, Tasuki gave a reluctant laugh. Spreading out his right hand, he mused, "yeah, I remember how much you liked those. And ya know, I gotta say it still amazes me that you could get all of my fingers into your mouth that one time I bribed ya-"
The bandit seishi's voice trailed off as the situation he was describing suddenly struck him. An erotic chain of thoughts followed, parading through his brain, starting and ending with Miaka on her knees.
He turned to look at her with blazing eyes.
She stared back, her parted lips an unconscious invitation to act on his fantasies.
"Let's go an' get our stuff. We wanna be ready as soon as Chiri is done." He said abruptly, withdrawing the arm he'd put around her. "With what I'm thinkin' about right now, this couch is not a good place for us t' stay."
Miaka quickly agreed. While he stood up and helped her to her feet, she asked, "Did you really not want to go out to a bar? I promised you a night out, and it's not too late! You could change again, and we could-"
Tasuki stopped her words with a brief kiss. "The only thing that's gonna make me happy …" a blunt fingertip found and traced the distinctive mark he'd left on her neck, "...is gettin' ya back home an' alone, just as soon as possible."
He let his hand drop, but his eyes conveyed unspoken promises-promises that both thrilled and unnerved. Without thinking, Miaka reached up and toyed with a long strand of her hair, twirling it around a forefinger.
The thought of waking up every day knowing it would be spent with Tasuki was exhilarating. But she also knew that the thrill of newfound love would eventually be tempered by the toil of the mundane.
Living with each other for a month was enough time to discover the truth. What if Tasuki got tired of her?
"Now quit yer worryin', Mi-chan!" The focus of her thoughts exuded cheerful determination as he unwound the lock of hair from her finger. "I made ya a promise! Come hell or high water, you're stuck with me!" He eyed her mischievously. "I got no problems at all with burnin' hell, but the high water is gonna be a real bitch!"
Miaka let out a peal of laughter, remembering her mountain-dwelling seishi's attempts to swim.
Even more marvelous was how accurately he'd pinpointed her mood, and how quickly his gruff but understanding words had turned it around.
She loved Tasuki. He loved her. That fact alone was enough to convince her that everything would be fine with them.
Well...almost enough.
"You do realize that after what he saw us doing that Keisuke isn't going to allow us to have an extended time alone, don't you?" She said, after heaving a perplexed sigh. "He's going to be the most bothersome and interfering chaperone ever! That's another reason why I didn't want him to go! How are we ever going to get any privacy with my brother tailing us everywhere?"
Tasuki's began to sparkle. "Oh ho ho, so that's what got ya fired up!" He said, then went on in a teasing, sing song tone, "Mi-chan's hot n' horny, an' all worried about when she'll have me!"
Miaka glared daggers at him, even though she knew she was blushing. "Pick on me any more and you're really going to get it!"
"You're gonna give 'it' to me if I tease ya?" Her seishi laughed gleefully. " All right, Mi-chan! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"
Exasperated (and amused, though she'd never admit it), Miaka stamped her foot.
"That's not what I meant!" She complained. "You're the biggest tease-"
Her tirade ended on a squeak of surprise as Tasuki yanked her against him.
"Who's teasin' who here?" He asked huskily.
Powerful hips and the hardening flesh between them were pressed against her lower belly, literally proving his point.
It was a little bit of consolation that he now looked and sounded as tormented as she felt.
"I can't stand it." She whispered. "I really can't."
"An' ya think I can? We'll just have to find a way to make it happen!" He reached back to finger the handle of his tessen. "I could always toast his ass a little."
Her jaw dropped. "You wouldn't...would you?"
Tasuki shrugged, then laughed at her expression as he dropped his arm to his side. "Nah. I got another secret weapon t'use!"
Miaka blinked. "That's not very reassuring."
"Didn't mean it to be." Her seishi flashed her a grin, for the moment looking every inch the proud and rebellious bandit he once was.
"No, I suppose you didn't." She acknowledged dryly. "So what's this secret weapon of yours?"
For answer, Tasuki held up his arm so that his sleeve fell away to reveal the glowing symbol for 'wing'. "It's my speed! Or have ya already forgotten that I'm the guy who stole ya right out from under an Emperor's nose without him seein' a thing?"
Several blocks away, a taxi crept along in heavy traffic. After a few minutes of silence, the lone passenger sitting in the back seat leaned forward and tapped the cabbie's shoulder. "Can't you go any faster, Driver-san?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but no. The traffic patrol is out in force tonight. I don't want a ticket."
"Is there an alternate route?"
"Hai, but it's longer and just as well traveled as this one."
"I see. Well then, just do your best."
"I will. Thank you, ma'am."
While the driver concentrated on traffic, Mrs. Yuuki sat back in her seat with an impatient sigh. Traveling time was so vital- the distance between her apartment and Keiske's seemed as if it had doubled. She turned her head to stare out the window, then jerked her face forward again. No use scanning the scenery for any sign of a mythological bird she hadn't seen!
'I'm too young to be experiencing dementia! It must have been a reflection off a billboard, or a runaway kite... or some kind of balloon advertising.'
With the subject dismissed, her thoughts focused on the heroic redheaded enigma that was Shun'u. The young man had given a strong impression of being honorable. She liked seeing how he wore his heart on his sleeve for Miaka, and she had liked him as a person. She thought she had made her approval of him quite clear in their little chat, so why would we they feel the need for secrecy? Why would Shun'u agree to steal away with her her daughter? He had been so sincere, so honest and direct in conveying his intentions. Had she misjudged him that badly?
No, she hadn't. There was something else she hadn't considered- the issue of Shun'u being Chinese. History dictated that there were plenty of political and cultural prejudices for them to deal with as a couple living in Japan or in China- resentments between the two countries ran deep enough that they could pose some serious risks to their well being.
The epiphany had Mrs. Yuuki's eyes moistening.
The Chinese government wouldn't be happy to have one of their upstanding young citizens asking to live in Japan-that was why the young man had been so emotional about her question about visiting- though China and Japan had made strides in diplomatic relations, it wasn't going to be easy for Miaka to get a visa. Of additional concern was that there might be trouble with family. But surely parents who had raised a son like Shun'u would be inclined to let a warm and caring Miaka into their hearts? And even if they were against the Japanese people from the past, wouldn't they welcome them in the future if they were presented with grandchildren?
A smile touched Mrs. Yuuki's lips. There had been a time that the idea of being called 'Grandmother' would have dismayed her. But that perspective had changed drastically as the sounds of teenagers bickering had been replaced by the silence of an empty nest.
Miaka had done a lot of maturing and evolving in the last three years. Did she realize that her mother had matured and evolved as well?
Probably not, Mrs. Yuuki decided. To Miaka, she probably seemed staid and set in her ways.
Too old to change.
Too old to remember what it was like to fall in love.
Now that she had considered all the angles, she was sure that the bluntly honest Shun'u couldn't have instigated this plan. This had all the earmarks of one of her headstrong daughter's ideas. Rather than risk a confrontation, she had regressed to her old strategy of 'do it first, tell Mom about it later'.
It also didn't surprise her at all that Miaka would think of elopement as a solution to a visa issue, after the disappearances her daughter had pulled in the past. That had been one of the good things about Miaka's relationship with Taka- he had insisted on finishing his education before making the final commitment to a relationship. That insistence was what had forced Miaka into settling down and becoming a more diligent, serious student, a development of which Mrs. Yuuki highly approved, but which had backfired for Taka.
She had been aware of her daughter's growing dissatisfaction with the relationship. It was a sore subject. Miaka hadn't wanted to talk about it with her mother, and Mrs. Yuuki felt it had been no use to go digging. As long as her daughter continued to turn down every other potential suitor that came into the picture, there was nothing to discuss. Despite all their difficulties, it was clear Miaka was planning on staying with Taka.
Shun'u had appeared out of nowhere. He'd taken down those drug-addled delinquents with a visually stunning display of martial arts, and then took command of her daughter with equal finesse and enthusiasm. After seeing them together, it was very clear that Shun'u was very much in love with Miaka and somehow had won her heart in return- a previously unthinkable feat, given the extent of her daughter's devotion to Taka. How had Miaka managed to hide someone who was the complete anithesis of Taka? How had he managed to pique her daughter's interest? Was it because he was so different?
It could be that Shun'u and Taka weren't that different. Maybe Miaka had been attracted by the similar qualities in the two men, the kinds of qualities not readily divined with the eye or ear.
Mrs. Yuuki shook her head in befuddlement. No matter what the reason for Miaka's change of heart, it puzzled her mightily how it could have happened so fast. It had to have happened in just the last couple of days. It wasn't possible that her daughter could have kept such an overwhelming specimen of a man a secret for too long, considering Taka hadn't been around for weeks.
Shun'u and Miaka were aware of each other in a way that defied the convention of 'getting to know someone'. They seemed as comfortable with each other as two old and dear friends would be- and Shun'u appeared to know Taka. Those facts pointed to the possibility of a long term friendship that had become more. But then Miaka had stumbled over giving Shun'u's family name, and had said that he had only just transferred into the university as a foreign exchange student. He couldn't have been around her for all that long a time-but yet it had obviously been long enough for them to fall in love.
Emitting a small moan of exasperation, Mrs. Yuuki leaned back and pinched her temples between the forefinger and thumb of one hand. 'Tension headache. I must stop trying to figure things out, and concentrate on getting there before they do something rash. I'll get answers soon enough-a guilt trip will get always get through to her!'
By the time Chichiri emerged from his meditations, his party was packed, and waiting to go. Keisuke had managed to cram his things in one large backpack, Miaka had her two suitcases, and Tasuki had her old backpack. All three were deep in an exchange of conversation, and hadn't noticed his presence.
Taking advantage of his anonymity, the mage surveyed his comrades, pleased that he felt so much more in tune with their chi and their moods. He could sense Tasuki's barely suppressed jubilation, Miaka's slightly nervous excitement, Keisuke's deep resignation, along with a profound sadness from Yui that almost bordered on despair. He frowned as he gazed at the blonde. Despite her brave words and supportive actions, Yui was having a very difficult time letting go of her friend.
Chichiri frowned. This time Yui had Tetsuya, but would it be enough?
"Chiri! Did ya get all powered up?"
The monk jumped guiltily at Tasuki's bellow, and made sure his mask was firmly in place before he answered. "Yes, thanks to Suzaku, you know. I'm ready."
"Before you guys leave, I have a couple of gifts I'd like to give you." Yui said, as she walked over to Chichiri and handed him one of the two small gift bags she held.
"What's this?" He asked, after accepting the package with a bow of thanks.
"Japanese incense." She replied shyly. "I bought it during the tour we took; I thought it would remind you of something happy and nice during your prayer time."
Chichiri's mask smiled, and so did the face beneath it. "This is a very thoughtful gift, Yui. It will be a great help to me to focus on a wonderful memory of a good friend, you know."
"I'm so glad!" Much to the Suzaku warrior's astonishment, (and their onlookers' amusement) the former Seiryu priestess flung her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for accepting me as your friend." She murmured, in a tone so low that only he could hear. "And for not giving me away to Tetsuya!"
So she knew he knew that she hadn't made a mistake with the kiss. Not trusting himself to speak, Chichiri simply nodded and returned the hug, grateful for the mask as he felt Tasuki's teasing gaze upon him. It was a precious gift, along with the incense. Every time he burned it, he'd be thinking about how warm and wonderful Yui felt, how good she smelled, and the possible meanings behind the tender look she gave him as she finally stepped out of his arms.
'I must think of her and Tetsuya together whenever I burn it too, he thought, as the blonde finally turned her attention to the bandit seishi.
"It's your turn, Tasuki." She announced. Walking over to him, she handed him the other bag into which the redhead immediately peeked. "Here you go!"
He peeked into the bag. "There's a whole buncha those picture things like Miaka took of all of us!"
"But these are all of her." Yui replied, grinning as Tasuki's face lit up. "I thought you might want to see what she looked like growing up, and in the times you weren't together."
The ex-bandit affectionately ruffled her hair. "Thanks, Yui! This is gonna be great!"
Miaka stepped forward. "Those had better be good pictures, Yui-chan!"
The blonde gave her a cheeky grin. "Oh definitely-depending on one's point of view of what good is!"
"Mou! Yui-chan!"
Tasuki yanked the bag out of reach as Miaka made a sudden motion to grab it. "Hey there, Green Eyes-keep yer hands off! These are mine!" Kneeling and fending her off with one hand, he stashed the pictures in the backpack at his feet, then stood up. As he did so, his gaze was drawn to Chichiri.
"What?" He barked, bristling at once at the mage's knowing smirk.
"Did my ears deceive me, or does the big, brawny bandit have a sweet little pet name for Miaka, you know?"
Tasuki's face was close to the color of his hair. "Shaddup, Squirrel Butt!"
The others laughed. Miaka, sensing a chance to get some payback for the pictures, answered the question.
"He's the only one to call me that. I think it's so romantic."
She smiled sweetly at Tasuki, who simply 'hmphed' and looked away.
Yui coughed to hide a laugh. "Miaka-chan, I have some special things to give you too! Grab one of your suitcases and come with me for a couple of minutes."
Miaka obeyed while Tasuki cast her friend an inquisitive look. Yui smiled, but said nothing more as the two women left arm and arm.
After they had disappeared into the room at the end of the hall, Chichiri spoke. "Tasuki, why don't you and Tetsuya set up while I give Keisuke an idea of what to expect, you know? The fewer surprises for him on the trip, the better it'll go."
Tasuki and Tetsuya agreed. The monk gave them quick instructions on what furniture needed moving and how to lay out his kasa, and they carried out his wishes as Chichiri patiently explained the quirks of traveling in the void to a suddenly pasty-faced Keisuke.
When Miaka and Yui returned a few minutes later, flushed faced and teary eyed, they found the stage had been set for departure. Yui tightened her grip on Miaka's hand.
It was time.
"This is the address, ma'am." The cabbie called out cheerfully as he switched off the meter. "Please wait for me to come round, and I'll get your bag."
"All right."
He did so, and opened her door. As Mrs. Yuuki climbed out, she caught a faint sparkle of scarlet and gold from the corner of her eye. As soon as she turned her head, however, it vanished, leaving her to wonder about her state of mind. Foolishness! I don't have time for this!
"Are you all right, ma'am? You've gone a bit pale."
"Yes, thank you, I'm just very hungry." She lied. "How much do I owe you?"
He named an amount and Mrs. Yuuki hastily paid it, along with a generous tip. Before the driver could bow or offer to carry her luggage, she had picked up her bag and was running towards the building.
The man blinked and then smiled broadly as he saw the shadow of a mammoth bird sweep over his retreating passenger, giving the appearance of shielding her with its outstretched wings before she disappeared into the building.
'So she was also a chosen one!' He thought in awe.
"I guess this is it, then," Miaka said sadly. "I love you guys. I'll see you in a month, one way or another."
Yui simply nodded, now too choked up to speak. She embraced Miaka fiercely, then ran to Keisuke, who caught her up in a hug.
Tetsuya walked up to Miaka and took into a big bear hug. "Take care, Miaka-chan. We'll be keeping a lookout for you." Behind his sunglasses, he gave her a big wink as he released her.
She nodded and smiled tremulously. "I know you will. Please take good care of Yui-chan for me."
"I will." Tetsuya said, then turned to make a deep bow to Tasuki and Chichiri. "It was an incredible honor to meet both of you," he said somberly. "Keisuke and Miaka are like family to me. With you two guarding her, I know they'll be safe."
"Thanks, Tetsuya." Tasuki said, returning the bow. "You're a good guy."
"Thank you for the tour of Tokyo. I'll never forget it, you know." Chichiri added, also bowing. "I am honored that you let me impersonate you."
Tetsuya grinned. "You're welcome, and thank you for the magic lessons! It was a riot having an identical twin!"
"You're welcome." Chichiri sent a sidelong glance at Tasuki, who was busy saying goodbye to Yui. "I haven't had fun like that for a long time."
"What was fun?" Tasuki asked, his ears perking up. "Didja get another hot kiss or somethin'?"
"If doesn't have to do with Miaka, why would you care?" Chichiri retorted. "It's time for us to leave. Is everyone ready now? "
There was a chorus of affirmatives.
"My transport spell should be more than strong enough to take all of us, but keep in mind that it could end up being a bumpy ride with this many people." The monk said calmly. "Tasuki, you take Miaka's bags. Miaka, you have your backpack and hang onto Tasuki. Keisuke, you have a backpack and a bag, so you can hang on to me. We have to maintain a link to arrive at the same destination, so whatever you do, don't break contact. Let the luggage drop if you have to. Whatever you do, don't let go of the person next to you or step off my robe! Are there any questions?"
His audience shook their heads.
"Okay, everyone step onto the kasa, and I'll begin the incantation."
They lined up as Chichiri had instructed, and he began to chant.
Tasuki glanced at Keisuke. Miaka's brother was very pale, and had latched onto Chichiri's arm in what looked like a death grip.
'For all his big talk, he's pretty scared. Hope he doesn't wet himself or nothin'.' The redhead thought, while tightening his own grip on Miaka. As glad as he was to be going home with her, he was feeling apprehensive about the journey too. To his knowledge, this was Chichiri's first attempt at transporting this many people while outside of their world.
A sniffle caught his attention and he looked down.
"You okay, Mi-chan?" He whispered.
She smiled up at him with wet eyes. "You're with me, so yes."
Tasuki kissed her forehead, not caring if anyone saw.
"Always, Green Eyes. I'll always be with ya." He promised, while slanting another quick glance at Keisuke. Thank the gods, the poor bastard looked as if he was pulling himself together a little. There was a hint of color in his face, and he'd eased up on the monk's arm.
His respect for Keisuke was deepening the more he saw of the Japanese man, who clearly felt as strongly as any celestial warrior did about taking risks for Miaka. Hopefully having a mutual love and concern for her could forge an understanding between them ...and perhaps someday, a brotherly bond of their own.
Once she was in the entryway, Mrs. Yuuki made a quick decision to dispense with announcing her presence through the security intercom at the front door. Instead, she used the spare set of keys Keisuke had given her for the occasional times she watched the apartment while both boys were away.
'Forewarned is forearmed!' She thought grimly, as she strode through the empty lobby to the elevator. 'I'm being extremely impolite, but it can't be helped.'
Entering the elevator, she pushed the button for Keisuke's floor with a short, quick stab of the finger. For once, luck was with her, and the lift made no stops on the floors between. Key ring in hand, she hurried out of the elevator, her overnight case banging on the still opening doors, and ran down the hall to the apartment. She tried the door only to find it locked, and then turned her attention to fumbling for the correct key.
On the other side of the door, Chichiri had finished his incantation, and the assembled group had become surrounded with a familiar red light. Goodbyes were quickly exchanged once again, along with blown kisses on Miaka's and Yui's parts. During the emotional moment, none of them heard the scraping of a key in the lock.
When the door burst open, Yui screamed. In a flash, Tetsuya stepped in front of her to confront the intruder who was now standing in the open doorway.
"Y-Yuuki-san?" He stammered. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh my God!" Yui was frozen with horror.
The older woman ignored them as she gaped in disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.
Miaka, Shun'u, Keisuke, and a strangely blank-faced man with a blue mohawk stood upon a midnight blue cloak, which billowed and rippled around them as if it were caught in a ghostly subterranean updraft. Their bodies shimmered in the eerie rays of a crimson light, which seemed to be growing brighter by the second.
"What's happening?" She cried.
"Don't move!" Chichiri ordered, in a voice made harsh by anxiety. "It's too late, you know! Once I've started it, I can't stop the transport from taking its course!"
"Mom, we'll be all right!" Keisuke called to her. "We'll only be gone for a month!" As he finished speaking, he looked down in wonder as the outline of his body began to flicker. "Oh wow…"
Taking a deep breath, Mrs. Yuuki pulled her scattered wits together. "Miaka! Keisuke! Stop this! Come and talk to me... RIGHT NOW!" She demanded.
"We can't!" Keisuke responded, looking miserable. "You'll have to ask Yui and Tetsuya, and I'll explain the rest when we get back!"
Mrs. Yuuki turned to Tetsuya, with a look that made him back up a step. "From where? You tell me, Tetsuya! WHERE ARE THEY TAKING MY BABIES?"
Tetsuya gulped. "Uh…it's...it's kind of complicated …"
Tasuki looked down at Miaka, and felt his gut clench as he saw the streams of tears coursing down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Mom." Her mouth silently formed the words. "I'm so sorry…"
He looked towards the mother who had birthed and nurtured the woman who had become the love of his life. Mrs. Yuuki stared back at him, the terror of losing her offspring blazing in deep green eyes so like her daughter's. He couldn't bear that look, or what it meant. There was only one option, and he took it without a second thought.
Leaning down, he barked a command into Miaka's ear.
"Mi-chan! Grab this!"
She jerked, startled out of her misery. "What?"
He thrust the suitcase at her. Sudden understanding dawned in her eyes, and Miaka obeyed his directive without another word.
Now that his arm was free, the wing seishi quickly extended it to her mother.
"C'mon!" He called out, his voice breaching the widening gulf between them with surprising clarity. "Come with us!"
She stared at him, then at his outstretched hand, and then back at him again. "Shun'u?"
"Hurry!" He urged. "Grab on! I'll help ya!"
It was a sign of her deep love for her children - as well as desperation- that Mrs. Yuuki didn't hesitate. She ran the rest of the way to the man who was frantically beckoning to her.
Tasuki's arm cinched around her waist, pulling her tightly against his side. For a timeless moment, the eyes of mother and daughter met and held…and then Mrs. Yuuki reached out with her free hand to grab hold of the arm Miaka held out to her.
Closing her eyes tightly, she recited a short prayer as the three of them were pulled into the void.
To be continued!
Author's notes:
The references found in Mrs. Yuuki's worries are based on the history of Japan's occupation of China during WWII.
Any guesses as to who the cab driver was? ^^
Thank you to all who have read and/or reviewed this story so far. It's deeply appreciated!
KittyLynne