For EternityBy Sakata Ri Houjun ~*****************~ Tasuki had no idea what to do with his life once it was over. His friends were supportive and offered their homes and hearts to help him out. All he could do was graciously refuse. It wasn't that he didn't feel grateful for their friendship, but this was something that he was going to have to deal with, alone. After Tamahome and Miaka got married, he returned to the States. To say honestly, he really didn't want to go to the wedding, but the others insisted that he stay and he felt that he should be there, for Chichiri's sake. Nuriko accompanied him home on the flight back, but she didn't have much to say in terms of comfort. It was just as well since they parted at the airport terminal. The former bandit looked around his lover's apartment, things packed away in boxes. They had begun packing before they left to meet Nuriko because Chichiri had accepted some job elsewhere. Tasuki could still hear his voice, feel his warmth, smell his skin in everything. Slowly, it was going to kill him or drive him insane. Tasuki began stacking the boxes, trying to keep his mind occupied. He eventually found a rather small box with his name written upon it. Curious, he opened the box to find a paper-wrapped parcel inside, sitting on top of packing material. An envelope with his name written in Chichiri's neat handwriting was taped to the parcel. Tasuki stared at it a moment before removing the envelope. Inside, there was a letter. With tears in his eyes, Tasuki read his lover's words. "If you have found this, that means that my initial fears were confirmed. I made the difference in the end, but at a terrible price. I'm sorry that I'm not able to be with you anymore. I never wanted to leave you again. I had hoped that you and I could be together, spending our lives in each other's arms. "But destiny is a strange thing... "While studying for my final thesis, I came across this. I kept it at the time because it made me think of you. Then you returned after our fight and well, I thought then that you should have it. I'm certain you'll find some use for it. "We will be together again. That is our true destiny. Don't give up because it's not you. "For eternity...for always...I love you." Tasuki looked at the parcel in the box again and smiled sadly. His lover knew he was going to die. He knew... Carefully, he peeled back the brown paper to reveal the warn cover of an old book. He flipped it over and strangely enough could understand the title even though it was written in another language, one he knew from his memories. "Shi-Jen-Ten-Chi-Sho..." A chill ran up his spine as he formed the words. Almost as if he were being guided by invisible strings, he opened the book. The pages fell open, the noise they made indicating their age. Tasuki's eyes widened once the pages stopped their turning. There among all the Chinese character, there was Chichiri, just as he remembered him. Wrapped in his kesa, hair defying gravity, thin smile, high-slitted eyes staring back at him. With a shaking finger, he traced his lover's face. "Chiri...I love you..." "And I love you too, no da..." The former bandit's head snapped up at the sound of the voice. He was still alone in the apartment. "Chiri?" "Tasuki...Come to me...I love you, no da..." Tasuki looked back down at the book and noticed a red glow coming from the picture. His heart raced as the light suffused his body, filling him with Suzaku's power, with love. The world around him began to disappear, but he wasn't afraid to let go. "For eternity, no da...Our destiny...Tasuki..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Tasuki...How long do you plan on sleeping, no da?" The bandit blinked open his eyes and looked around him in confusion. Chichiri sat nearby, mask in hand and a condescending look on his face. Tasuki sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What happened?" "You were exhausted once we reached the top and fell asleep, no da. I was worried that you'd never wake up again." The monk shrugged and then turned around to face the setting sun. "I warned you not to push yourself on those steep cliffs, na no da." "I...don't..." Tasuki tried to remember climbing the mountain, but all he could recall was a warm red light surrounding a white sphere and then disappearing, leaving him feeling sad and alone. He shook his head to clear it. "What's wrong, no da?" "Nothing. Just a weird dream. I'll have to tell you about it later." He moved to where his lover sat and leaned against his shoulder with a sigh. "Were you really worried?" "Well..." Chichiri blushed. "I didn't want you to miss this sunset, no da. You were right. It was worth the climb to be above the clouds like this, no da. It feels like we're so close to heaven. I'm glad you convinced me, no da." "It doesn't take much for me to convince you. Besides," Tasuki chuckled. "I knew what I was talking about." He took the older seishi's hand and squeezed. "And you are my heaven, Chiri. I love you." "I do too, Tasuki. For eternity..." Tasuki wandered for a moment where he had heard that before, but then dismissed the idea when he automatically answered, "For always..." The two men kissed as the sun set, filling the sky with a warm, crimson glow.