The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story

By KittyLynne

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to the canon story of Fushigi Yûgi or any of its characters; they belong to the mega-talented Yuu Watase and the multi media companies with which she's affiliated. This fic is intended as a tribute from a fan; I derive no profit from writing it other than the satisfaction of pleasing the person who reads it. I do claim ownership of and original characters and characterizations, the original storyline/interpretation of events, and original dialogue found in this story, and ask that they not be copied, borrowed from or posted without my express written consent.

I'd like to extend a very special thank you to my hubby for his able assistance in proof reading, his suggestions for story points, and most of all, for being the source of romantic inspiration. :)

Chapter 25: True Confessions

"And it came to pass that Taiits-kun held council with the mother and elder brother of the Priestess of Suzaku, while the Priestess and her beloved roamed the corridors of the Oracle's ancient palace …"

Apprehension curled in the pit of Yui's stomach as she read the newest entry in the Book of the Four Gods. Up until now, Mrs. Yuuki had handled everything that had been thrown at her with laudable poise, but there was no telling if the poor woman would be able to hold herself together if Miaka made the decision to stay and serve all four gods. And then there was the knowledge that Miaka's mother would be finding out a whole lot more about her daughter's best friend. That was sure to be a shock as well. 'Yuuki-san …I wonder what she will think of me now? How will I ever be able to face her, now that she will know all the terrible things I said and did to Miaka when I was Priestess of Seiryu?'

The blonde's lips compressed as she reminded herself to be strong for Miaka's sake. Her best friend needed all of her love and support now, and that was just what Yui was determined to give her, irregardless of the personal cost.

"Here's your tea, sweetheart! Orange spice, your favorite."

"Thank you." Yui smiled up at Tetsuya as he handed her a steaming cup. "You're so good to me."

"My pleasure!" He sat down on the coffee table and leaned forward to steal a kiss. "So do you think everything is going okay in the other world?"

"It's hard to tell." The blonde sighed as she glanced down at the book. "On top of everything else, I suspect that staying with a bunch of brigands for a month isn't going to go over very well with Yuuki-san."

"Mm, probably not," Tetsuya agreed. "She's never seemed like the adventurous type to me."

"Me either, but she's done a remarkable job of handling everything so far." Yui mused. "And she does trust Tasuki- I could see it in the way she looked at him when he offered to take her along."

"I wonder if she'll still feel that way after she finds out about his past with Miaka," her companion mused. "After hearing about his bandit days, Yuuki-san might decide that Taka is a better prospect for Miaka, even though she and Taka have had their differences. Taka is a very clean cut guy, and Tasuki…" He shrugged and laughed. "Well, what can I say? Tasuki is Tasuki!"

"I don't think that's going to be too much of a problem," Yui replied. "I think the big issue is going to be whether she'll accept the reality of Miaka staying with Tasuki once she finds out about what the whole character in a book thing has entailed."

Tetsuya sighed and shook his head. "Poor Miaka! She'll be getting flack from all around, then, 'cause we both know what Keisuke thinks about the Universe of the Four Gods!"

"Except that no matter how much Keisuke-kun insists that it's not a real world with real people, he doesn't really believe that's the truth." Yui stated.

Tetsuya's eyebrows lifted at the assurance in her voice. "How can you be so sure of that?"

"I'll answer that question with a question," Yui replied, now smiling a little. "If Keisuke truly believes that Tasuki is just a character in a work of fiction… then why is he so worried about Tasuki getting Miaka pregnant?"

For a moment, Tetsuya stared at her, his mouth hanging open. "You know…" he said, when he'd regained his composure, "I never thought of the whole thing in quite that way." A wicked grin spread across his face. "And I really think you should ask Keisuke that question if you get the chance."

"Oh I will," Yui said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You can count on it."

The torches were burning brightly in the Stronghold's corridors when the Bandit Leader of Mount Reikaku went to join his men for their evening meal.

As he drew nearer to his destination, Kouji paused for a moment to look around him with more than a little pleasure. The spotless floors, freshly whitewashed walls, and gleaming woodwork all attested to the hard work that Benjiro, Kuma and their respective crews had put in that day. They had thought of everything, right down to placing incense burners in the various alcoves cut into the stone walls. The fragrance was subtle, but strong enough to dispel the most pungent of manly odors that hung in the air.

Genrou wouldn't have any cause for complaint in this area- or about the sleeping accommodations either, for that matter. Hakarou's private living quarters had also been restored to their former state of grandeur, and Kouji was certain that the Priestess of Suzaku would find them more than suitable for her needs. Even if he had experienced a momentary twinge of guilt about giving use of the rooms to an outsider, it had been quickly dispelled by the thought that Miaka deserved every consideration that was in his power to extend to her. 'Anyway, I know Hakarou woulda approved of it an' done th' same himself, especially seein' it's for the Priestess of Suzaku and Genrou.'

One of the double doors at the end of the passageway flew open, interrupting the bandit leader's thoughts. He turned in time to see Kuma appear, as the excited babble of men's voices spilled out into the corridor. Kouji smirked, imagining the kind of speculation that was probably running rampant through the bandit ranks at that moment.

"They're all ready for ya, Boss!" Kuma called out, as his leader approached. "I told Matsu to hold off on servin' th' food until ya were all done talkin'!"

Kouji clapped a hand on his second-in-command's brawny shoulder. "Thanks, man. You've done a hell of job for me today, an' I won't forget it."

Wearing a proud grin, Kuma gave a slight bow of thanks and then stepped back to allow his leader to precede him into the room.

The long wooden plank tables were filled to capacity; by the looks of it, every man in the contingent was present save for the sentries guarding the fortress walls. As the two men strode down the center aisle between the tables, the bandits leapt to their feet in respect. Conversation subsided to a low, droning murmur as Kouji and Kuma stepped up to their places at the high table, so called because it was where the leaders always sat, and because it was located on an elevated wooden platform. Shing was already standing there, as well as Benjiro, the other two members of the Bandit Leader's trusted inner circle.

Though his expression remained impassive, Kouji was well pleased. He had never put much stock in a lot of unnecessary ceremony, but he had to admit that the occasional display of devotion from his men did wonders for his ego. It wasn't often that he got to take center stage to make such an important announcement either, so he intended to make the most of this opportunity for high drama.

He picked up his goblet, already brimming with the finest sake the Reikaku cellar had to offer. It was a signal to Kuma, who immediately picked up his own chalice and barked out a command.

"All hail th' leader of Mount Reikaku!"

A toast and hearty accolade from the contingent followed, which the Bandit Leader acknowledged with a wave and a silent toast of his own.

When the cheers had finally died away, Kuma bellowed,

"Oi! Sit yer stinkin' asses down an' listen up good! Th' Boss has somethin' real important t' say!"

Much thumping and scraping of benches followed as the bandits obeyed the command. When they were all seated, every face turned to the high table and an expectant hush fell upon the room. Kouji, who had remained standing, took a deliberate swallow of sake and then set down his cup, conscious that all eyes were following his actions. A small smile curled his lips; a captive audience, oh how he loved it! Too bad the occasion didn't call for a few of his favorite jokes…

He put his hands on his hips and surveyed the room, stretching the anticipation out long enough to set a few of the men to fidgeting. "I'm sure ya noticed all th' shit that's been goin' on around here," he boomed suddenly, causing the inattentive bandits to jump guiltily. "There's a helluva good reason for it, and I'm gonna tell ya what it is now!"

As he paused to take a swig from his goblet, a voice from the back of the room called out, "Oi, Boss! Don't tell us ya finally decided to take yerself a bride!"

Kouji paused in mid-gulp, almost choking on his sake.

"Hell, no!" He retorted, when he could talk. "Why buy th' goat when ya already get th' milk for free?"

Raucous laughter filled the Great Hall, but quickly died out when Kuma banged on the table top with one of his giant-sized fists. Kouji nodded his thanks to his second-in-command, and then continued. "Genrou was th' one who asked me to whip this place into shape," he announced. "Seems that the Priestess of Suzaku has returned and is probably gonna be honorin' us with a visit."

A stunned silence dropped on the room. Kouji glanced from face to face, taking note of expressions that ranged from mild anxiety to outright fear. He wasn't surprised at the reaction; maintaining the peace could be a very dicey thing, and the unexpected appearance of the girl of legend emphasized how fragile their present way of life could be. Still, he couldn't help being disappointed in their lack of enthusiasm. He'd expected more fortitude from the famous guardians of Reikaku.

"Che! Whatta bunch of idiots!" He scoffed. "Genrou and I'd know if there was somethin' bad goin' on, and I'm tellin' ya there ain't! She's just comin' back to visit with her old friends!" It was a white lie at best, but what the hell. If there really was something to be alarmed about, he'd deal with it later. Right now, he had a more critical point to get across to his unruly crew. "As most of ya probably remember, Miaka got some pretty shitty treatment from us, myself included, th' last time she was here." He continued grimly. "We acted without honor, but she graciously forgave us."

He paused to take stock of his audience, gratified to see most of the fearful expressions changing to ones of discomfort and remorse. "Every single man in this place owes his life to th' woman, an' for that she deserves our allegiance and our protection. She's to be treated with th' highest respect while she's with us, an' any man that don't toe th' line of respect an' mind his manners around her will be personally answerin' to me! Understand?"

His hard-eyed glare left no one in doubt as to what the fate of said offender would entail. Almost immediately, a subdued murmur of affirmation rippled through the room. Satisfied that the message had been received, Kouji concluded his remarks. "They're gonna be here any day, so I want every last one of ya to make damn sure th' place stays fuckin' spotless! That's all I got to say-let's eat!"

As his men clamored for their food and drink, Kouji pulled out his chair and sat down next to Shing, who immediately leaned over to him. "May I have a word, Leader?"

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead."

"I wanted to let you know that I've finished selecting the security detail for the Priestess."

"Who'd ya pick?"

As Shing rattled off the list of names, the Bandit Leader nodded his approval. "Also, my scouts inform me that there's been no sign of Kaou infiltration anywhere on the mountain for some time. All seems to be in order," the Weapons Master concluded.

"That's good news," Kouji responded, thoughtfully fingering the scar on his cheek. "But y'know, I'd almost rather th' slimy bastards were up to their usual tricks. It kinda worries me when they get too quiet…makes me think they're plannin' somethin' real big."

"We will maintain the highest level of vigilance," Shing agreed quietly. "If there is mischief afoot, we will put a quick end to it."

"I'm in yer debt." Kouji grabbed up his goblet and drank a toast to his oldest liegeman, who smiled and shook his head.

"It is I who owes you, Kouji. Not many would be willing to entrust the safety of the Priestess of Suzaku to an old man like me."

"Yeah, some old man who can thrash my ass or th' asses of my men on any given day, with any weapon in th' Reikaku arsenal!" The Bandit Leader flashed a grin. "Hell, it wouldn't even surprise me if ya could get yerself a bride before I do!"

Shing arched a brow. "Ah! So does that mean you are thinking of looking for one?"

Kouji's cheeks reddened. "That's not what I said!"

"Yes, I heard what you said." Shing responded. "You said you prefer free samples to owning the goat."

The pupil averted his eyes from his sensei's all-knowing gaze.

"It ain't exactly the way it sounded." Kouji admitted, setting down his goblet and staring at it with a moody expression.

"Then why do you say things like that to the men?"

Kouji's winged eyebrows drew together even more. "The Reikaku Code says that our dealings with women should be purely for pleasure!" He stated defensively. "An' for good reason! The life of a thief ain't safe- a wife and kids would be his weakness, an' sure targets for his enemies! As leader, I hafta set an example!"

"Ahhh yes…" Shing drawled. "Now I understand. You're afraid you couldn't handle that much responsibility."

"If ya know so much, then why haven't you ever taken a wife?" Kouji snapped, then instantly regretted the bad-tempered question as he saw his sensei's eyes darken with pain.

"Came close to it, once." Shing confessed, after an awkward pause and a long swallow of sake. "Many years ago, before the Kutou uprising."

This was news, and Kouji was all ears. The old man rarely allowed any glimpses into his past, so this was a special event. "So what happened?" He asked, with frank curiosity.

"Our love was forbidden." Shing stared down at the goblet in his hand, swirling the liquid within it. "Shiba was a warm and beautiful woman…and I fell in love the moment I saw her... and to my astonishment, she returned that love. Unfortunately, I was a member of the Imperial guard, assigned to defend the outer gates of the seraglio, of which she was a part. A relationship was out of the question. It mattered not that the Emperor had no interest in taking her to his bed as a wife or concubine. She was a possession of His Majesty, and not to be touched upon penalty of death."

Kouji swore under his breath.

"I didn't give a damn about the law, of course," Shing continued. "I was willing to risk everything, even my life, just to be with her. We passed messages at first, and met as often as we dared on the palace grounds, but it wasn't enough privacy for either of us. We decided to chance a meeting outside the gates…but unfortunately she was caught leaving the seraglio. Abandoning the harem is a serious offense that can be punishable by death. By the time I found out what had happened to her, they had already taken her away to the Emperor. Thankfully, His Majesty was merciful, even though Shiba refused to divulge the name of the lover she was to meet. He sentenced her to three strokes with a cane, and then arranged a marriage to one of his Imperial advisors. The man had fancied her for a long time, and was delighted at his unexpected good fortune."

The former guardsmen paused, his expression rife with emotion. Kouji's eyes gleamed with sympathy, but he remained silent, allowing the older man to regain his composure.

"As devasting as it was to know that Shiba belonged to another, it was even worse knowing that protecting my honor had brought her pain and unhappiness." Shing went on, after a moment. "I decided that since she'd given up her freedom for me, I would give up my life for her. I wrote her a note of farewell, in which I swore my eternal love and apologized for the shame I had brought her, and then gave it to a trusted friend of ours to be delivered. She wrote back within the day, and at great length. The sum of what she wrote to me was that she could not live in this world if she knew I was not. She said the only words that would keep my hands from the blade." A bittersweet smile played around his lips. "She ended the letter by saying that time heals all things, and that it was her dearest wish that I find happiness with another."

Kouji exhaled slowly. "So that's when ya decided to leave?"

"Yes. She knew very well that I couldn't end my life knowing she'd die as well, so I decided the next best thing for us was to remove myself from all contact with her."

Shing paused as one of the younger apprentices appeared with a huge bowl heaped with dumplings, slices of pork, and rice. The two men took up their chopsticks and began to serve themselves.

"So then what happened?" Kouji prompted, when the boy had moved out of earshot.

Shing gave a mirthless laugh. "I soon discovered that one isn't allowed to resign from the Imperial Guard until one is too old, diseased, or badly maimed to serve His Majesty. I was none of those things. Nor would they grant my request for a transfer to a border outpost, so I was left with no choice but to desert my post. I knew I would be executed if I were caught, but I was young and stupid enough to prefer the life of a fugitive to the pain of seeing the woman I loved married to another man."

"Is that when ya came here to Mount Reikaku?" Kouji asked softly.

"Yes. I had heard many stories about the famous mountain bandits of Reikaku, so I decided to seek them out. An outlaw belonged among outlaws, after all, and I was confident that my fighting skills would be good enough to earn my keep. After watching me take down five of his best men, Hakarou agreed to let me join,and assigned me the task of training his men for combat with weaponry." He smiled. "I found peace here on this mountain. Shiba was right about time healing the heart, even though the heart does not forget. I will...treasure my memories of her until the day I see her in heaven."

Kouji simply nodded, unable to speak. The tragic story had affected him more deeply than he wanted to admit, and brought new meaning to what his sensei had said when they had left the practice field. The old man really had learned from first hand experience how much of a distraction a woman could be.

"I'm real sorry it didn't work out for you an' your lady." He offered with awkward sympathy, as Shing turned his attention to spearing a large piece of pork from the wooden platter in front of them. "An' I can sure as hell understand why ya gave up women."

Shing's chopsticks paused halfway to his mouth. "It's not that I've given up women, Kouji." He said gravely. "I've just been waiting for the right one to come and find me."

"Well, would ya look at that!" Tasuki exclaimed happily, as he and Miaka rounded a corner into a familiar looking corridor. "We found it!"

Miaka smiled as she spied the curved archway and the colorful landscape that lay beyond it. Despite the time, the sun shone brightly, beckoning to her to enjoy its warmth and the delights of the garden it nourished. "Wonderful! I'm getting kind of tired of seeing rooms and halls that all look the same."

"Me too," Tasuki agreed. "Let's go."

Hand in hand, they walked through the gate and into the celestial oasis. As on their previous visit, the air was filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers and the sounds of birds. Miaka sighed with pleasure, letting the tranquil beauty of her surroundings soothe nerves stretched tight from waiting and wondering.

"So what do ya wanna do now?" Her seishi asked, his expression making it very clear what it was that he'd like to be doing.

Miaka blushed. Erotic thoughts of what it would be like to make love amongst a bed of beautiful flowers had filled her mind, but she quickly banished them. It would be disrespectful to this holy place, not to mention that she didn't want a repeat of the encounter with Keisuke. It was wiser to keep moving; they'd have a lovely time walking and talking, and she'd be able to control her impulses

"I'd like to go see the koi in that pond over there, and the rest of the flowers."

Though Tasuki's noticeable disappointment at her decision was gratifying, her expression betrayed her relief when he gave in without protest. At seeing it, he simply grinned in his wolfish way, telling her without words that he was well aware it would take very little effort on his part to get her to take a less innocent path.

And so they strolled along, chatting and commenting as they made some new discovery. Miaka was amazed to find out that her companion knew the names and facts about every bush, plant and flower they encountered. "Tasu-chan, I have to tell you that I'm very impressed." She said, as they passed under the spreading, gnarled branches of what he'd identified as a banyan tree. "I never realized you knew so much about botany!"

He modestly shrugged off her admiration. "Ya learn things growin' up on a farm... an' what I didn't learn there, Chiriko taught me."

Miaka stopped walking, pulling her companion to an abrupt halt. "Chiriko?" A lump rose in her throat as she pictured the sweetly rounded face and kind eyes of her youngest seishi.

"Yeah." The seishi of fire gave a soft laugh. "He always used to ask me to go out into the Imperial gardens so that I could teach him some martial skills without anyone seein' us. Then somehow, we always ended up walking around so he could spout off all the knowledge he had stuffed in his head. Guess all of it kinda stuck in my brain too. What a miracle, huh?"

Miaka slowly shook her head. "It's not. You're smart, Tasuki. I can tell, and so could Chiriko. I think he was giving you a chance to learn from him because he knew you wanted one but wouldn't ever ask him for it."

There was a brief pause as Tasuki considered what she had said.

"Ya think Chiriko thought I was smart, huh?"

Though he made the question sound offhand, her instincts and the way his eyes were shining told Miaka it wasn't. She was starting to see that her seishi's tough, macho exterior was a cover up for more than his sentimental nature.

"I don't think he did," she stated emphatically. "I know he did."

For a long moment, Tasuki did nothing. Then his arms moved, wrapping around and pulling her tightly against his body as he buried his face in the curve of her neck.

"Thanks, Mi-chan. I miss th' little guy, an' that means a lot."

His voice was low, and muffled by the thick strands of her hair. In response, Miaka wrapped her arms around her warrior's strong neck and closed her eyes, reveling in the scent and feel of him. It truly was wonderful just to be held...but as the seconds ticked by, she found herself wanting more.

Apparently Tasuki felt the same, because his arms had uncrossed and his hands were sliding slowly up and down her spine. As he began to nuzzle her throat and the curve of her cheek, she tipped her head back in submission, savoring his tenderness and the feel of his warm lips against her skin.

After a few blissful moments, the ex-bandit lifted his head.

"Look at me." He commanded hoarsely.

Miaka obeyed, opening her eyes to meet a smoldering gaze that put all thoughts of good behavior and the fear of being caught right out of her head. When Tasuki's mouth came down on hers they closed again, and a tiny whimper of need escaped her. When his tongue parted her lips and swept into her mouth, she responded without thought or reservation.

Two men and one woman stood under the stone archway, observing the silhouettes of the couple standing under the banyan tree. As the two figures merged into one, Keiske started forward, but was promptly pulled back by his mother.

"This is no time to go barreling in!" She admonished. "Let them have a moment alone."

Keisuke's face was reddening. "If you ask me, they've had way too many moments alone." He muttered.

"They're in love." Mrs. Yuuki replied calmly, as if that made everything all right.

Her son stared at her, dumbfounded. "But Mom, now that you know the truth about what happened in this place, and why Miaka was called back here…it doesn't bother you at all?" His eyes added, with all you saw back there, you should be totally freaking out!

Mrs. Yuuki sighed and rubbed her temples.

"Of course it bothers me!" She admitted. "But how can I forbid her the choice? Miaka is an adult now, and has been for far longer than I've given her credit for. At age fifteen, she attained the success and greatness I had always wished for her... and never breathed a word of it, thanks to my stubborness and narrow minded ways. What can I do but be grateful that I was given this second chance to know my daughter?" Emerald eyes shimmered with moisture. "And as for Shun'u- how can you or I condemn him when he was willing to give up his life for Miaka and to save our world? Not to mention that he rescued me from two knife wielding thugs in the parking lot today without any regard for his own safety!"

Keisuke's eyes went wide. Why hadn't Miaka told him about this? "He...he did?"

Mrs. Yuuki nodded. "And in very fine style, may I add! Therefore, it is my opinion that Shun'u deserves to be judged on how far he has come, and not where he came from." She eyed her son sternly. "So! Are you in agreement with that or not?"

As her shamefaced son murmured an acquiescence, Chichiri regarded Mrs. Yuuki with deepening respect. After all the woman had found out, the monk thought, it spoke well of her that she was willing to give Tasuki a chance to prove his worth as suitor.

During the meeting she had made it quite clear that she wasn't happy about Tasuki's chosen profession, as well the attitude he'd taken towards Miaka when he had first met up with her daughter. As the tale went on, however, Chichiri could tell that Tasuki's subsequent devotion to Miaka had greatly impressed her, as had his constant defense of Miaka's feelings.

The only truly bad moment had been when Tasuki had tried to take Miaka away from Taka...but even then the bandit had ended up redeeming himself. Of course, it helped that Taiits-kun hadn't shown all the details of what had almost happened between Tasuki and Miaka at the Inn, making it look as if the bandit seishi had only gotten Miaka drunk and stolen a kiss from her.

It had been deceitful of the Oracle…but it was also necessary and merciful to spare a mother some pain. Tasuki's heroics against Evil Tamahome, Nakago and his own inner demons had ended those parts of the session with the motherly scales of approval decisively tipped in the ex-bandit's favor.

But it would it stay that way if they went through with the plan for Miaka to visit the Stronghold?

Chichiri smiled to himself. Given the strong will and commendable composure Yuuki-san had displayed thus far, he'd say that things looked very promising for Miaka and Tasuki. There had been numerous times during Taiits-kun's briefing where Yuuki-san had clung to her son, quite obviously horrified by the trials that her daughter had been forced to endure. And yet, she hadn't turned away from the images, hadn't closed her ears to the Oracle's tale. She had faced the truth with courage and dignity, and in the end had been able to graciously thank Taiits-kun and himself for the roles they had played in helping Miaka.

It was in that moment that Chichiri realized from where Miaka's indomitable spirit had come. For all of their differences and disagreements, Miaka and her mother were exactly alike in how they dealt with adversity. And like Miaka, Mrs. Yuuki would probably be more than a match for the 'gentlemen' bandits of Reikaku; men who had mouths like daggers, but hearts of the softest tofu.

"Hey! What's that all about?"

Keisuke's exclamation snapped the monk out of his musings. Following the Japanese man's pointing finger, Chichiri spotted the still entwined couple. Despite their distance, it wasn't hard to see the flashing pulses of crimson from Tasuki's yoku symbol… which meant he'd have to get a move on and step in before Tasuki ended up doing something that would banish the high regard Mrs. Yuuki had for him.

"Why don't you two sit down over there while I go and get them?" He said quickly, indicating a nearby bench. Not waiting for an answer, he turned and set off down the path that led to Miaka and Tasuki, making sure his staff hit the ground with his every step. Hopefully, the distinctive jangle of shakajou rings in the hushed atmosphere of the garden would alert his friends to the fact that they were no longer alone.

The ploy worked. As he drew near, the embracing couple jerked apart.

Pretending not to notice the Priestess hastily pulling her shirt into place and the aroused looking Tasuki trying to hide the telltale glow of his kanji, the monk offered them a cheery greeting. Miaka smiled and responded with her usual warmth, but to say the ex-bandit didn't look happy to see him was an understatement. Chichiri met the glare he received from his brother seishi with an unsympathetic smirk, thinking that Tasuki might as well start getting used to interruptions. After all, choosing to share accomodations with a monk, an outspoken mother, an overprotective brother, and a large bunch of gossip loving bandits was not the way to go if one wanted private time with one's lady!

"All done with Taiits-kun?" Miaka asked, ignoring the nonverbal communication passing between her two warriors.

Chichiri nodded. "For the moment, anyway. Your mother and brother are waiting for us back at the garden's entrance."

Though her family was well out of earshot, Miaka's tone was pitched low. "How...how did things go over with my mom?"

"Very well, you know." The monk replied cheerfully. "Yuuki-san withstood everything much better than I could have predicted."

"She's okay? She didn't mind too much havin' to see all the shit Miaka went through?" Tasuki asked, immediately forgetting his ire with the monk.

"I wouldn't go that far, no da." Chichiri heaved a sigh. "She got very upset during some parts, which is to be expected." At the redhead's panic stricken look, he added, "But if you're wondering whether she's angry with you, or going to disavow you, the answer is no. Amazingly, Yuuki-san still holds you in high regard despite some of the idiotic things she's seen you do and say."

Tasuki frowned, unsure if he should feel insulted or gratified. "It's all good, then." He said, trying to convince himself.

"Better than good!" Miaka enthused. "It's a miracle!"

"'We should measure a man by how far he has come, not by where he came from.'" Yui put down the scroll with a sigh. "Oh Tetsuya, do you think Yuuki-san will feel that same way about me now that she knows how badly I treated Miaka?"

Smiling warmly, Tetsuya took her hand in his. "I'd count on it! You've come a very long way from your days in Kutou." His smile faded. "Things seem to be going well- I just hope Keisuke doesn't go off half-cocked and tell Tasuki and Chichiri about the book. No telling what might happen then."

"I wonder why Yuuki-san isn't making that more of an issue?" Yui mused. "I mean, Miaka told her about the book once, so she's had to put two and two together, but she still isn't objecting to anything that's happening as being totally outrageous. If I didn't know better, I'd say she's enjoying the adventure of being in it herself."

"It's got to be menopause. Women can start acting really weird during the change of life." Tetsuya suggested knowledgeably. "When my mom started going through it, she bleached her hair platinum blond, started wearing leather dresses and stiletto heels, and wanted to hang out with me and my friends from the university all the time. Gods, that was embarrassing."

Yui giggled. "I suppose that could be one explanation...but I think it might be a case of the real Yuuki-san coming out at last. As a responsible single mother, she wouldn't have wanted to show this daring side of herself, but when she thought her kids were in mortal danger... " She paused, looking thoughtful. "Miaka's sense of adventure and strength of will had to come from somewhere, right? So how can we say that this is unusual behavior for the mother of the Priestess of Suzaku?"

"I suppose that we can't." Tetsuya conceeded the point. "It's kind of ironic though- I'd be willing to bet Yuuki-san would have warmed up to Taka a lot quicker if she had known about what he went through to be with Miaka. Which reminds me..." he glanced at his watch, "...I should go call him right now. It's getting close to curfew, so he should be back at the base by now."

Yui bit her lip. "It almost seems cruel to tell him. I mean…I understand that he should know she's safe, and about Keiske and Yuuki-san going with them, but given what's happening with Miaka and Tasuki…"

"I won't go into unnecessary detail." Tetsuya assured her, as he rose to his feet. "I'll just give him the facts."

"All right," Yui said, still looking unconvinced. "And please tell him good-bye and good luck for me."

Minutes later and a few miles away, Taka Sukunami sat on the bed in his dormitory room, oblivious to the lively banter flying around him as members of his regiment prepared for their deployment to the States.

The unexpected phone call from Tetsuya call had snapped him out of his heartsick haze, and set him on edge. Why on earth would Suzaku allow Miaka to take her family into the book? Were the Four Gods that desperate to have Miaka that they would break the rules to offer her such a huge bribe? Even more importantly, would they really allow her to leave when the month was up, if that was her choice?

He looked down at the scroll he held in his hands; it could be a possible passport to that other world, if he wished it to be so. The thought made him want to tear it into shreds, but instead he found himself tucking it into the side compartment of the duffle bag sitting next to him.

This flirtation with Tasuki wouldn't last. By the time a month passed, Miaka would come to her senses and realize where and with who she belonged. And if she didn't...well, he'd just go there and persuade her to return! In spite what he had said in his letter, he had no intention of letting let her go without a fight, be it against man or deity!

There was just one problem with that scenario. Although he had Suzaku's invitation and the ring Miaka had first given Tamahome, there was no guarantee either would act as a medium to get her out of Konan. The only sure thing was the book. He could borrow it as insurance, and return it when he brought Keisuke and Yuuki-san back to Japan, and Miaka to her new life in the States. If the military brass didn't like him having his fiancee around, that was just too bad! The present risk of losing her had opened his eyes to the fact that even a month's separation from her would be more than he could stand. If they wanted him in special services as badly as he knew they did, then they'd have to accomodate his wishes.

With a glance at his watch, Taka quickly got to his feet. The dorm's curfew had been waived by special order so inductees could say goodbye to their families. If he caught a taxi to the National Library right now, he'd get back well before the assigned time of departure.

It would be a very expensive venture, of course...but Miaka was more than worth it.

Tasuki was feeling blessed by Suzaku. Chichiri had pulled him aside to let him know that Taiits-kun had seen fit not to show all of the intimate details of the Kahou incident.

But being forearmed with the knowledge that Mrs Yuuki wasn't angry about it still didn't make it any easier to face her, the ex-bandit thought, as he, Chichiri, and Miaka approached the bench where his beloved's mother sat with her son.

As the woman got to her feet, he placed a hand on Miaka's shoulder, letting her know that he was there if he was needed, and then stepped back to allow her take the lead.

The Priestess of Suzaku came to a halt directly in front of her mother. A collective silence fell as the two women regarded each other with guarded intensity.

Finally, Mrs. Yuuki spoke. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were bright and her lips trembled slightly, betraying her deeper emotions. "Well Miaka, I honestly don't know whether I should be kneeling to you, or turning you over my knee!"

"Oh Mom…" Miaka flung herself into her parent's embrace.

"We have a few things to discuss, my dear." Mrs Yuuki said, once they'd gotten their emotions back under control. She released her daughter, then caught Tasuki's gaze. "Shun'u, I have something I need to say to you too."

"Yes ma'am." Despite the cool mountain breeze swirling around them, Tasuki felt a droplet of sweat sliding down his temple.

"Keisuke, why don't I show you around the garden?" Chichiri suggested. "I think you'll find it unlike any place else you'll see in this world."

Keisuke hesitated for a few seconds and then accepted. Though he would have preferred to stay and take part in his mother's discussion with Tasuki and Miaka, good manners and curiosity would not allow him to refuse the monk's offer.

When the two men had left, Mrs. Yuuki began to pace back and forth.

"Nothing that's happened to me in my life could have prepared me for any of this." She stopped pacing to regard her daughter with glistening eyes. "I'm so very, very proud of you, Miaka-chan, and greatly ashamed that someone else had to show me what an amazing daughter I have! Can you ever forgive me for not listening to you when you first tried to tell me about finding that b-"

"Of course I forgive you!" Miaka cut in. "But you shouldn't blame yourself, Mom! It was a pretty hard thing for me to believe, and I lived it!"

There was a short, tension charged silence.

"Taiits-kun tells me that you have another decision to make." Mrs. Yuuki said slowly. "The Four Gods are asking you to stay in this world and be their only priestess."

"Yes." Miaka bowed her head.

"As you can imagine, I have plenty of things to say about that, but I'll save them for later." The older woman turned to Tasuki. "And as for you ..." She shook her head. "Quite honestly, I'm not sure what to call you any more! Shun'u? Genrou? Tasuki?" A pause. "Fang Boy?"

"Mother!" Miaka's face was glowing with embarrassment. Along with everything else, the mischievous Oracle had obviously passed along a favorite nickname for the fiery seishi from Mt. Reikaku.

Tasuki was grinning broadly. "It's okay, Mi-chan. It is kinda hard to keep all those names straight, even for me!" To the older woman, he added, "If ya want, just keep on callin' me Shun'u, ma'am. It's my birth name."

"I'd like that." Mrs. Yuuki acknowledged, and then surprised the young man in front of her by giving him a very low bow.

"Shun'u, though it's far too inadequate a reward, I hope you will accept this mother's expression of heartfelt gratitude for your honorable services to her daughter." She stated. "Everything that was told and shown to me makes it clear that Miaka couldn't have survived and triumphed over evil without you. Not only did you defend her with dauntless courage, you went out of your way to be her friend and to keep her spirits up. For those things and more, I and future generations of my family will honor the guardian star Tasuki and the Kou name."

Speechless and flushed with astonishment, Tasuki could only return the bow. The words of sincere appreciation and commendation were more than he could have hoped for...and the best reward he could have gotten. For years he'd been telling himself he didn't care about having anyone's approval, not even his own mother's, but now...well, it was shocking to discover just how much it meant to him. In fact, it was bringing on a kind of jubilation that he couldn't contain, even in spite of having a gut feeling that he was about to get knocked down to earth...

"However, let's be clear on one thing, " Mrs. Yuuki continued, confirming the ex-bandit's suspicion as she straightened and looked him straight in the eye, "heroic warrior or not, I hold you accountable for your future actions involving my daughter. I expect her to be treated with the utmost respect, and provided for by legal and honest means."

Tasuki stared back at her, unsure of whether he was more elated by the implication regarding Miaka, or offended by the blatant ultimatum.

"He gave it up to be a full time Suzaku warrior, Mom!" Miaka interjected quickly, seeing the conflict brewing in the redhead's eyes. "He and Chichiri are working for the Empress Dowager."

"They are?" Her mother's eyebrows arched in surprise. "You really do hold a government funded position, Shun'u?"

"Yeah, I do! But ma'am," he blurted, "I have t'say that the Reikaku bandits are an honorable buncha guys! They don't steal from women or little kids or the elderly, just the corrupt an' arrogant! They even give what they don't need to live to the folks in the villages around the mountain!"

"Think of the legend of Robin Hood," Miaka chimed in enthusiastically. "You know, taking from the rich and giving-"

"To the poor. Yes, yes. I know the story." Mrs. Yuuki said, with a somewhat weary sigh. First the Wizard of Oz, and now this. Would the fictional analogies for this place ever end?

"And th' leader, Kouji-I ain't ever gonna be ashamed to say that he's like a brother to me, an' one of my best friends," Tasuki declared, warming to the topic. "He's a real brave guy, and a hell- uh, he's much more honest than most of the government officials Chichiri an' I hafta deal with!"

Mrs. Yuuki's lips quirked upwards. "Would Kouji be the handsome young man with the scar and the knock-knock jokes?"

Tasuki grinned. "That's him! Ya saw him in th' mirror, huh?"

The older woman nodded. "I must say that's a very interesting little dance you two do when you meet."

Miaka looked away to hide her grin while her warrior's face turned beet red.

"Um...yeah, about that." He said, putting a hand to the back of his head and looking sheepish. "It's sort of a ritual we made up. Kouji just ain't much for huggin'."

Mrs. Yuuki laughed. "It's a cute ritual."

Sensing that her mother's mood had softened, Miaka quickly spoke up. "Mom, I'm sure if you met Kouji and the guys, you'd really like them! They're bona fide heroes since they saved the day during the battle with Kutou, and-"

Her mother interrupted. "I am well aware of that. From what I saw, I will even concede that they did seem charming and likeable...in a rough sort of way. But that doesn't change the fact that stealing from others is wrong!"

"Yes, I know. But they're good guys at heart! I bet they would even try to reform if given the chance and the right motivation!" Miaka countered, sending a sly glance at Tasuki, who was looking just as flabbergasted by the idea as Mrs. Yuuki. "You're a strong woman, Mom. You'd be a good influence on them."

"What is this?" The older woman exclaimed. "Don't tell me that you're considering taking me to the Stronghung?"

"That's 'Stronghold'." Tasuki corrected, with a tiny smirk.

"Whatever!" Mrs Yuuki waved an impatient hand. "Answer me, Miaka! Are you honestly planning on going back to that place?"

The Priestess of Suzaku met her mother's anxious glare with a smile that could have melted butter.

"Well...since you've brought up the subject, Mom," she replied, "I think it's probably time for us to go over my itinerary!"

To be continued...