Monk

*(1/8)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

 

Warning:  Gets lime at the end.

 

~***************~

 

The sound of my feet hitting the dirt path was a constant sound only rhythmically interrupted by the jingling of the rings on my shakujo.  When I was known as Ri Houjun, a novice setting out on his first pilgrimage, these sound kept me focused on finding absolution to my guilt and ease for my soul.  Later, I became Chichiri and these sounds became a beat for my heart to follow as I headed towards an unknown yet preordained destiny as a Suzaku Shichiseishi.

 

Now as I walked toward Mount Leikaku, the home of my friend and fellow seishi, Tasuki, I realized that I was once again Ri Houjun as well as Chichiri.  I was still seeking peace for my lonely soul while continuing on towards some destiny that still awaited me.  Why else would Suzaku have kept me alive after my duty to his Miko was finished?

 

I wanted to see my friend again as it had been two years since our parting.  I didn't know why I had taken so long in seeing him again, but for some strange reason, I felt the need to visit with the one person who truly knew me as well as myself.  He and I shared a bond that ran deeper than blood and were thus connected on a level no person could ever understand.  In the years after the loss of friends and the completion of our duty, we traveled together, but Tasuki had returned to his post as leader of the bandits of Mount Leikaku.  Before he left, he made me promise to come and visit him soon.  That had been two years ago.

 

As I grew nearer to the mountain, I could sense the beginnings of some major change ahead that could not be avoided. It almost overwhelmed me and caused a pause in my walking.  Could turn around, but I had promised my friend.

 

The winding mountain path that led to the bandits’ stronghold was laced with traps, yet I spotted each one with ease. I could also sense the presence of the bandits hiding amongst the trees, but knew that they would let me be.  These honorable bandits would never attack a monk like myself, but that wasn't eh only reason.  In the great battle between Konan and Kutou, they fought behind their leader and knew me as Chichiri.

 

At the gate, I was met with many faces, some of which I recognized from the war.  I mentioned that I came to visit Tasuki and they led me to my friend's chambers.

 

Tasuki, who had been lounging in his chair, immediately jumped up to embrace me as one does a long-lost brother.  I returned his greeting warmly.  He then pulled away with a smile on his face.  I noticed that in two years time, he had mellowed and matured a bit.  I never thought that to be possible with Tasuki.  The fire was still in his eyes, but he lacked the same spark he had when I first knew him.

 

"How have ya been?" he asked while slapping me on the back.

 

"The same as always, no da," I smiled at him.

 

Tasuki turned to the bandits who led me in and asked that he get some time to catch up with his friend.  We were suddenly alone.

 

"Come on," he dragged me over to where he was first sitting and indicated a second chair.  "Take a seat and tell me everything you've been up to since I last saw ya.  Two years is a long time to wait for a visit."

 

 I nodded.  "I'm sorry, but I got caught up in my travels, no da."

 

 "So, you're happy?"

 

 "Happy, no da?  What do you mean, Tasuki?"  He was losing me.

 

"I mean content and all that shit."

 

 I laughed.  "Of course...only..."

 

 "Only what?"

 

"I sometimes miss the others and want to go back to the beginning when it was the seven of us with our Miko."

 

Tasuki quickly looked out the window and then smiled wistfully.  "Yeah, sometimes I wish for that myself. But we've got to keep going because our friends would've wanted us to be happy."   He looked back at me, "And I'm glad that you and I were left alive."

 

"What do you mean, no da?"

 

"I mean that if it were just me, I don't think I could’ve been able to go on alone.  I just glad that you were there." His eyes softened and his face grew serious.  I felt my heat beat faster...but why?

 

Tasuki continued, "When I left to come back to my post here as leader, I did out of duty.  I expected your silly face to show up and surprise me like ya used to, but I never heard from ya.  For the longest time I was scared that I might've lost you to some accident or disaster.  Why else would you not have visited?

 

"Then time stretched on and I began to regret our parting.  I would’ve given up my position to Koji if I knew where to find ya.  I realized just how much I've taken your presence for granted and missed ya terribly."

 

"Tasuki..." I tried to make his stop but he continued.

 

"When you walked into this room, I felt so relieved and pissed off at the same time.  Sitting here and talking to ya made me realize that I cared about ya and probably have cared for ya since the beginning'."  His gaze smoldered into twin embers that seemed to burn into my heart.  My mind raced at the emotions flowing through me.  What was happening?

 

"Chiri..." he trailed off using the shortened version of my name.  "Take off your mask."

 

 I complied and pulled the paper from my face.  Tasuki watched each movement with those burning eyes of his.  Then in one swift movement, he embraced me again.  However, it wasn't like before.  He now held on to me desperately, fiercely.  In shock, I stared down at the top of his head.  Tasuki's red hair caught the golden highlights from the setting sun streaming from the window.  His hair looked so soft, I found myself longing to touch it...why?

 

Tasuki pulled away to look at me, his smoldering eyes locking onto my own.  He suddenly brushed his lips gently against mine in a chaste whisper of a kiss.  The sensations it caused in my body surprised me.  I had never been kissed before, not even by my late fiancée, Kouran, so this was a new experience for me.

 

Huskily, Tasuki whispered, "I love you, Chiri."  I didn't know how to react.  My mind railed against this declaration, demanding that I leave now.  My heart ached for Tasuki to kiss me again.

 

Tasuki's hand reached up to touch my face.  His calloused thumb gently traced the outline of the scar covering my left eye. I closed my other eye and relished the sensation of his rough touch against the sensitive skin.  He moved his hand slowly along my jaw line and down my neck.  Through the fabric of my shirt, I could still feel his hand as he moved across my shoulder and down my arm to my hand.

 

I opened my eye and looked down at our intertwined hands, his tanned skin against my pale complexion.

 

"Chiri..." he murmured again.  I drew my gaze to meet his.  "I want you."

 

I felt heat rise to my face.  Had he said what I thought he said?  He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed my palm.  My mind tried in vain once more to reason with my heart.

 

I heard myself speak, "Tasuki, you know I've never even kissed before this moment...” I let the meaning hang in the air.

 

Tasuki said nothing, but drew me into his arms in a gentler embrace.  He kissed me again, this time more deeply.  Yes, my heart sang as I responded with an awkward kiss of my own.  Soon, I felt his tongue probing my mouth.  This new assault made me aware of each heartbeat sending blood pulsing into my veins.  He then coaxed my tongue into his mouth and guided me to explore.

 

My mind made on last desperate attempt to stop me by saying that this was wrong.  However, I gave in to the pounding of my heart, each beat telling me that this felt right.

 

Tasuki ended the kiss and began to remove my kesa.  He than undid the holster for his tessen and shed his stiff leather jacket.  Next, my belt was on the floor followed by my shirt.  He stood there a moment and when I did nothing, he laughed.

 

"What's so funny?"

 

"Dammit, Chiri...You're planning on making me do all the work here."

 

I failed to get his joke and apologized.  He merely smiled and removed his won shirt.

 

Tasuki than took my hands and drew me to my knees with him.  He kissed me again, but before I could respond, he had moved to my jaw and neck.  I closed my eyes and felt a moan escape my throat.  He continued even lower, his mouth and tongue assaulting my body.  It was as if he were determined to memorize every contour.

 

He playfully sucked and bit at my nipples.  I threw my head back and arched my back.  When it seemed that I couldn't take much more, he moved even lower until he reached the edge of my pants.  Even that didn’t deter him as he traced his tongue back and forth along the edge of the fabric while his fingers disappeared just inside.

 

I felt something soft in my hands and opened my eye.  Somewhere during all this, I had tangled my fingers in Tasuki's hair.  It was as soft as it looked even though I could remember when I hade done this.

 

Tasuki's head came back up and he nuzzled my neck.  His earrings brushed against my shoulder and I slid my hands down his back.

 

"Chiri..." he murmured against my skin.  "If I hurt you or you want to stop, just tell me."  He looked up and caught my gaze.  The heat from his eyes sent my blood afire.  I wanted him so much.

 

"I want what we have to be special so..." he trailed off.

 

I smiled and bent to kiss him.  Tasuki responded by directing me backwards until I was lying on my back.  He pulled away and sought my gaze again.

 

"I love you, Chiri..."

 

I felt the words coming from my heart.  "I love you, too..."