Author’s notes and warnings:  Thank you for your nice reviews !!!  This chapter contains a little angst.  I’ve written both Tasuki and Chichiri so sappy and ‘forever in love’ so much I think I’ll torture them just a bit.  Just a tiny bit, please don’t hurt me!  They WILL live happily ever after, I promise, I’m just not sure if I can wrap it up in the next chapter.  We’ll see.

Again this chapter will have lots of flashbacks.  More than the last, I think. 

Rating for language and some lime contents.  No blown out lemon until next chapter, so stay tune, folks.  (Hmmm, with a shower scene, ne, Kawaii?)

Disclaimer:  Still don’t own nothing…sniff, sniff.

By Moonraven

            I know you, the gleam in your eyes are so familiar a gleam

            Yet I know it’s true that visions are seldom all they seem

            But if I know you, I know what you’ll do,

            You’ll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.

“You actually need to walk, no da, if we are to get there .”  The kawaii monk said in an all too familiar tone.  They do this almost everyday.

“Don’t wanna.”  He was tired, well, not tired, he just didn’t feel like walking now.  The grassy area under that willow tree to the left of the path looked so tempting.  He just wanted to take a nap.  And maybe a snuggle.  “Nap, must have nap.”  He droned sleepily.

“Tasuki!”  This as the bandit made his way towards the said tree.  Hmmm…Tasuki thought…nice tree.  He felt very sleepy, too sleepy but he didn’t care.

“Tasuki!”  Chichiri’s voice rang out sharply.  He was confused, why was Chichiri yelling at him?  “Something is not right, no da.  Get away from there!”  Was that fear in Chiri’s voice?  Nyah. 

He continued to move closer to the nice cool spot just under the tree when, with a sudden red flash, Chichiri was standing between him and the tree.  Without warning, Chichiri send a deafening chi blast from his staff,  blowing away half the tree.

“Damn, Chiri, if you didn’t want me to nap, just say so!  Don’t fuckin’ blow up the tree!”  Gasped the no longer sleepy Tasuki, once the dust settled.

But Chichiri was not listening; he was facing the charred stump that was the willow tree.  Next to it was a glowing greenish woman dressed in a kind of transparent gauze.  She was near naked and she was beautiful.

“Chiri…what the hell is that?”  Tasuki didn’t like the feel of her.  Her beauty didn’t seem right.  She was reeking something like hunger.

“That was going to be you sweet dreams, no da.  Still want to take the nap?”  Chichiri said over his shoulder.  His eye still on the angry apparition.

“Er…no thanks.  Let’s kick some butt instead.” 

Chichiri looked over at him then.  His face lit up in a beautiful smile and he said, “You still haven’t changed a bit, no da.  Hai!  Let’s kick some butt.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Earth to Terry!  Anyone home?”  Ken’s voice broke him out of his revelry.  He blinked a few times and shook his head to clear the heart-wrenching picture of Chichiri.

“Yeah, I’m here.  What happened?”  He turned from the window to look at Ken.  His friend was looking at him with something kin to irritation.

“You spaced out again!  You told me to look at that weird tree stump that looked like some burnt woman and they you just fuckin’ spaced out.”  Ken searched his eyes, more out of habit than concern.  “You okay?”

“Yeah.  I was just thinking how come it looked like a woman.  Nothin’ to worry about.”   ‘Fuck, that was real freaky!  What the hell kind of imagination do I have?’  Terry wondered.

“Ah huh…whatever.”  Was all Ken said as he went back to his reading.  Terry closed his eyes and for the thousandths time wished he knew what was going on. 

They arrived at the bus stop in mount Hikoto.  They would have to walk another 3 miles to get to the shrine because buses and other motor vehicles were not allowed.  The rest of the class filed out of the bus and Terry found himself in the mist of 15 or so classmates.  Somehow it didn’t seem right to him.  There were too many people. 

The feeling of déjà vu crept over him again and Terry heard a familiar voice touched his heart.

“Tasuki no da, you asked me that only a few minutes ago.  Walk faster and we’ll be there by lunch time na no da.”

Terry blinked and looked around in confusion.  Was that Chiri’s voice? 

“If we get there soon, we could relax and maybe I can even give you a massage to help you feel better, na no da.”

There it was again!  ‘UGH!  I swear, when I get back home, I’m going to see a psychiatrist.’  Terry was pulling on his bright orange hair in frustration, unaware that half of his class was giving him a strange look.  Kenji rolled his eyes and ignored him.

The group started to pile up the mountain path and Terry lagged behind.  “Ken, can we grab a drink before we start?”  Terry pointed to the stands nestled into the side of the mountain.  They were filled with snacks, drinks, and souvenirs.

“Terry!  We are going to miss the lecture.”  Ken frowned, looking after the disappearing group.

“No we won’t.  Just a drink and snack and we’ll munch along the way.  Please.”  Another flash of puppy dog eye.

Ken gave an exasperated sigh and allowed himself to be dragged to the stands. 

Ryosuke stood in front of the shrine of Suzaku and took a deep breath.  He felt strange asking the beast God to give him strength to deal with the upcoming task.  He was never religious.  He believed that religion was created to control the mass, to brain wash them into a certain ‘acceptable’ behavior.  Modern day organized religion was the worst.  All that changed the minute he came face to face with the weather beaten wooden shrine of Suzaku. 

Ryo gave a sigh as he heard voices and laughter floated up the trail.  ‘Here we go.’ he thought.  He turned around to face the on coming crowd with a much-practiced smile.  Albeit not a friendly smile, but serviceable.  At the head of the crowd walked a tall young man with sandy hair.  He approached Ryo with a sunny smile and an outstretched hand.  Ryo met it with his own and the younger man pumped it enthusiastically.

“HI!  I’m Randy and this is our small group from Stillwell Academy.  You’re Ryosuke, right?”  He was as energetic as his handshake.  Ryo, being somewhat reserve, wasn’t quite used to that.  Randy was staring openly and smiling broadly.

“Yes, I’m Ryo.  Pleased to meet you.”  He was happy that his English came out smoothly.  When perplexed, his foreign language skill sometimes refuses to cooperate.  Ryo tried to put more friendliness into his smile.  When Randy’s gaze fixed itself on his scar, Ryo frowned and looked away.  He should be used to people staring at his scar by now but he wasn’t.  He sighed; well at least the accident didn’t take out his eye.  THAT would have been something to stare at.

“I’m sorry.”  Randy was saying.  Ryo turned back to him but was still silent.  Was Randy blushing?  “I didn’t mean to stare.  You just looked so mysterious and engaging…”  Ryo was blushing so hard he wonder if he can be any redder.  “I’m so sorry!  I didn’t mean to be so forward.”  Somehow he didn’t look sorry to Ryo. 

Ryo was slightly shocked.  Is this foreign young man coming on to him?  Old scarred face?  As inexperienced as he was with this particular scenario, he can’t deny the obvious interest the other man was showing.  Ryo did what he always do when faced with a situation he was not familiar with, he ignore it.

Clearing his throat softly he asked, “Are they all here?”  He was appalled to find that his voice shook a little.

Randy’s smile grew brighter; he knew he had an affect on the man in front of him.  He scanned the noisy crowd and check off his list.

“Terry and Ken aren’t here yet.”  Someone yelled helpfully from the back.  “I saw Terry dragging Ken off the path some time ago.”  Someone else supplied.  There was a healthy dose of laughter from the helpful crowd.  “If those two stayed true to form, they’re screwing each other silly.”  More laughter. 

Ryo lost all the color in his face.  His English was pretty good and if he understood them correctly, that’s NOT what he wanted any of them to do around here.

“SHUT UP, you guys.”  Randy gave him an apologetic look.  “I’m sure they’re doing nothing of the kind.”  Funny, Ryo thought, he didn’t look sure at all.

“Even if they’re not..er..screwing, I don’t think they should be wandering about.  There were a few incidents last week with some local people who didn’t like tourists around here.  They may get rough.”  Ryo looked back towards the trail anxiously.

Randy let out a hearty laugh, which earned him a glare from Ryo.

“Er, sorry again.  It’s just that I can’t imagine anyone messing with those two.  They’ll be okay.”  Ryo continued to look unimpressed.  “Really, I’ve seen them kick some major butts, they’ll be fine.”

“I still don’t like people wandering off the path without chaperone.  Please remain with the group and I’ll be right back.”  Ryo turned to say something in Chinese to the middle age man sitting a few feet away.  With a curt nod at the group, he left.

Randy wanted to protest but the stern look he was given prompted him to change his mind.  He watched wistfully as their lean guide walked purposefully back down the path.  Damn, he’s fine, thought Randy.

“Put your tongue back in your mouth!” his assistant, Ann, teased.  The small blond girl shook her head in mock disgust and jabbed his chest with a tiny index finger.  “YOU have been hanging around Terry too long.”

Randy didn’t reply.  He couldn’t seem to look away from the retreating back.

A few minutes down the trail and still nothing.  Ryo shook his head in frustration.  His day started out fine too with that sense of happy anticipation.  What ever happened to that?  Now he was tracking lost students along the mountain path.  As he rounded the bend in the trail, he stopped short at the sight nearly hidden from him.  By a large boulder a dozen or so yards from the path, two men were too wrapped up in what they were doing to notice a lone figure walking in on them. 

Ryo couldn’t help but stare.  There was something achingly familiar about the tall young man pounding into his friend in abandon.  At a closer look, Ryo let out a choked gasp and brought a hand to his mouth in astonishment.  Masaka.  Tasuki!  The hand dropped down to clutch at his chest as he watched them pause and look up.

The gasp brought the two entwined men out of their ecstasy and they looked towards the sound.  Lust filled amber eyes met shocked mahogany ones as they stared at each other across the path.  Kenji scrambled away from the other man’s arms and quickly adjusted his clothes.  He had recognized Ryo from the picture and biography he had read that morning.  ‘Shit!  We’re in trouble!’

Terry had not moved.  He seemed to be rooted to the spot as he continued to gaze at the new comer.  ‘It can’t be.  It can’t be.’  That phrased replayed itself over and over in his mind.  His heart was pounding so hard in his chest that it was almost painful.  His ears were ringing from the blood rush and it seemed to Terry that everything disappeared except the man standing on the trail.

He thought he heard Ken telling him to fix his pants but he wasn’t sure.  It sounded so far away.  Subconsciously he must have understood because he found himself pulling his clothes together.  Either that or it’s the pain and betrayal he saw reflected in the beautiful mahogany eyes that made him move to cover himself.  Either way, he felt like a heel and he didn’t know why? 

He never really cared what other people thought of him.  It wasn’t his fault that the guy walked in on their private moment.  Okay, so it wasn’t exactly the time or the place, but he never really cared before.  Why did it matter to him so much that this man not be hurt?  Why did the good opinion of this stranger suddenly seem so important to him?

Ryo tore his gaze away from the heart-wrenching scene before him.  ‘NO!  It can’t be.  I don’t care what they do.  These are strangers, that is NOT Tasuki.  Tasuki would never do that to me.  NO!’  He told himself sternly, Tasuki existed only in his dreams.  ‘This is NOT Tasuki.’ 

He turned around sharply and without a word strode back up the path.  ‘They are complete strangers, I don’t know them, that is not Tasuki.’  He recited silently all the way back to the shrine.

“Damn it, Terry.  Get yourself back together man!”  Terry heard Ken’s voice vaguely.  “Fuck!  We are in deep shit this time.”  Ken was saying as he dragged Terry back onto the path.  “Do you know who that was?”  He asked the semi-comatose Terry.  “No, of course you don’t.  You never bother to read up on anything.”  Kenji continued and Terry found himself really interested in WHO that was.  “THAT, my friend, is Ryosuke Himura.  The Japanese genius that’s giving the lecture today.  He’s got, like, a ton of Master degrees and he’s gonna get his PHD this year.  Do you know he can speak 10 languages fluently?  Hey!  Are you spacing out on me again?”  Ken punched him roughly on the arm.

“No, I’m listening, lots of masters, 10 languages, PHD, see?  I was listening.”  But he looked so young.  And he looked just like Chichiri.  It can’t be, his head told him.  His heart on the other hand, have a different idea all together. 

            “Tasuki-chan.  I will always love you, no da.”

            “Forever, Chiri.  We’ll find each other again, no matter what.  I swear.”

Terry stopped abruptly and looked around him.  Where did that come from?

“Yo, Terry!  You okay?”  Ken frowned at him.  Terry looked so lost he didn’t have the heart to get mad at him.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”  He said without looking at Ken.  He wasn’t sure he could ever look at Ken the same way again.  What the hell was he suppose to say to him?  ‘Oh Ken, by the way, I think I found my Chichiri, so gotta go, bye.’  Yeah, right!  ‘I am so fucked up, I can’t stand it!’

As they approached the class, they heard snickers and cheers greet them.  Terry couldn’t help but flashed his trademark fanged grin.  Randy, on the other hand, was livid.

“Damn it you two!  I just KNOW you didn’t do what I think you did!”  His expression, though, clearly told them otherwise.  Their own sheepish expression didn’t change that either.

“I swear if you don’t behave, I’m taping your fucking dick between your ass.  The both of you!”  He marched back to Ryosuke who looked slightly ill.  Terry followed him.  He wanted to be closer to Ryo, much closer. 

Terry frowned as he saw how pained Ryo looked.  One hand still clutched absently at his chest as he discussed something with Randy.  His frown deepened to a scowl as he noticed that Randy was much too close to Ryo and would occasionally touch the other man while talking.  Terry had a sudden urge to clobber his sandy hair friend.  He came close to doing just that when Ryo’s haunting eyes shifted from Randy to him.  Terry held his breath.  The buzzing in his ears got louder and again, he found that the only thing that matter was the Japanese man standing a few feet away.  All else faded away and from somewhere far away, he heard a bird cry.

Ryo’s heart seemed to have stopped in his chest as he felt the burning gaze on him.  Looking up he met those hypnotic amber eyes filled with promises he felt the man couldn’t deliver.  The hectic noises and movement around them ceased and the world froze as he was pulled into the eyes of the younger man. 
From somewhere far away, he heard a bird cry.

They were both snapped out of their trances by Randy’s voice telling everyone to gather around the front of the shrine.  Terry was already there so he didn’t budge; he wasn’t sure he could move anyways.  His gaze traveled down the other man’s form and practically drank in the sight.  Ryo looked really good in that form-hugging cream-colored sweater that perfectly accentuated his tone upper body. (Here, the author drools)  His black jeans clung snuggly to his strong legs and firm buttocks.  (More drools, gomen)  Terry tore his eyes away from the enticing rear and moved up to a safer area; the man’s head.  The scar across Ryo’s left eye almost matches Chichiri’s perfectly except Ryo’s eye is undamaged.  Terry thanked whatever gods were watching Ryo for that.  A stray strand of hair fell along the side of Ryo’s cheek and he brushed it away absently.  Terry wanted to tug it away for him and run his hands through the long brown hair that was tied at the nape of his long slender neck.  He wondered what it would look like loose and fanning the pillow as Ryo writhe underneath him, urging him on.  Terry swallowed hard.  He shifted his backpack to the front hastily and hoped that his arousal wasn’t too visible.  The thought of Ryo panting in ecstasy under him was making him painfully hard.

When they all gathered in front of him, Ryo introduced himself to the crowd and gave them the handout he had prepared.  What came after was easy enough even with the undaunted amber eyes on him.  He knew the story of the four beast Gods by heart.  He told them about the many legends concerning the deities and noted as some snickered and some laughed outright.  He paused at certain points to give the rude behavior his most chilling glare.  It always worked wonders as his scar can give him a most villainous look.  With THAT taken cared of, he continued with the legend of the shrine.  Chills ran down his spine as he said the words that seem to echo the voice from his dreams. 

          “There is a legend about this shrine, no da.”

“It is said, no da, that if a couple pledge their love to Suzaku in front of the shrine, if their love is true, they will be united for eternity, na no da. They will be together in every incarnation to come.”

Terry gasped as the words brought vivid images of him and Chichiri to mind.  In his mind’s eyes, he pulled Chichiri into his arms and kissed the lights out of him

 “I love you for always and if Suzaku’s willing, you too of course, I would love nothing more than to be yours for all of eternity.”

Ryo heard the same sentence uttered by Tasuki.  His eyes were fixed on Terry as tears spilled from them.  What was this he’s feeling?  What’s going on?  Who was this man that’s making him feel so much heartache?  Ryo stumbled to his knees and blackness consumed him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bwaaaahaahaaahaaaa, evil laugh from author.  Poor babies!  I’m so mean to them.  Next chapter contains a bit more angst as well because I think Chichiri is the type that does think a lot and he may have problems with his two identities.  I’ve wondered about past lives and soul mates destined to be together.  Are they together only because of destiny?  And if so…do their current lives not matter?  Is the other person in love with YOU or with your past life?  (Mou, mou, I’m getting a headache!)  What are your thoughts on this?  Please let me know…reviews are brain food for fanfiction authors…. feed us, feed us, feed us! 

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]