All right, I’m sorry. There, I said it, no da. I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while, but between school (college in hard) and life (my sister’s a <insert bandit langue here>), it’s been rough. Fushigi Akugi’s coming along, but a bit slowly, so I decided to put this up first, no da. R and R as always (it helps me write faster no da) And I hope to write more soon (only five more weeks of school and a possible week in the mountains standing in my way now)

Love, Peace, and Chibis

Chichiri and Tasuki sat outside, the former fishing in a small lake near the base of the mountain, the latter watching him. He felt drawn to the mage, like the proverbial moth to a flame, but he was scared. He and Kouji had had so much, and though they had both agreed to keep it at a temporary level, he felt guilty. Guilty for thinking about leaving Kouji; Guilty for letting himself succumb to his hormones; Guilty about thinking of Chichiri, a monk, in such ways. Of dreaming of what he wanted to do to him.

‘Who’m I kidding, anyway. He’s a monk and I’m a fuckin’ bandit. I’m not even a virgin and I’m younger than him. Why can’t I stop thinkin’ of him like this?’ He hadn’t realized that a tear had formed in the corner of his eye, threatening to trail down his cheek. His heart felt torn and, simultaneously, broken. A shaky sigh escaped his lips, catching the attention of Chichiri. The older seishi glanced at his companion and frowned beneath the mask. He gently reached out and brushed the tear away as it began it’s decent and pulled his mask off.

“What’s wrong, Tasuki,” he asked, worried. ‘Tears don’t become you, hero,’ he thought.

“Eh? Nothin’, Chiri, it’s just…nothin’…” the bandit muttered, not convincing himself.

“Doushita? (What is it?)” the mage asked gently.

“I was...jus’ thinkin’ about somethin’, that’s all,” he mumbled. Sensing Chichiri was unsatisfied with the answer, he decided to continue. “I…I’m in love with someone an’ I don’t know…how to tell ‘im how much I love ‘im.” His eyes strayed to his lap, finding the ladybug that crawled along his pant leg interesting.

Chichiri sighed, though not for the reason Tasuki thought he had. “Well, if you love him, you should tell him as soon as possible or he may find someone else and never know.” The mage wanted to hit himself for not taking his own advise, but he didn’t want to chance losing Tasuki. There were no other seishi for him to talk to and, therefore, if Tasuki left, he would then have to resume his travels and keep wandering and, after so much time around other people who cared for him, he couldn’t risk it.

“I guess I should, demo, what if he hates me when I tell him?”

“I suppose it’s a chance you have to take when you fall in love…” He rose, deciding his heart couldn’t take just sitting there anymore. He had to go: had to get away from Tasuki and the thought of the one who had captured his heart in another’s arms. As he moved to replace his mask, a rumble echoed from above and the cerulean sky that they both could have sworn had been there only moments ago, was replaced with dark gray clouds, which promptly began dumping water on the two seishi. With little choice, Chichiri followed Tasuki’s lead to a near-by shallow cave where they could escape the torrent and wait it out.

Meanwhile, from the wide window in the room Akin had once claimed as his own, Hikou looked out though the rain and smiled. “Well, that should get them started at least,” he said, crossing his arms, his bat-like transparent wings shrinking down but not disappearing. “You did talk with Tasuki, right?”

“’Course I did,” Kouji replied, coming to stand beside him. He felt his heart begin to race as the mage turned to him and rested a hand on his shoulder.

“Shall we go get some lunch, then? I’m sure they’ll work things out. The rain won’t let up until they do.” Kouji nodded and led him to the dining area, the faint warmth of his touch clinging to his shoulder until long after they had parted ways after the meal, Kouji needing to check on a team that had just returned from a raid.

Back in the cave, Tasuki cursed at the weather and tossing his trench coat aside, his tunic following. He hated being wet. His eyes secretly watched Chichiri as the mage carefully laid out his kesa and tunic. He forced himself to look away as he glanced towards him, unaware of the gaze that lingered on him. They both situated themselves comfortably and watched the rainfall. After almost a half hour, Chichiri’s eyes fell closed, the thrum of the rain lulling him towards sleep. He felt a shiver run through him as a chill wind entered the cave and found himself resting his head on Tasuki’s shoulder. The bandit, almost in a daze himself, wrapped an arm around the slender mage and resting his cheek against the soft, blue hair that brushed against it. A clap of thunder made them both realize what they were doing and Tasuki began to move away when Chichiri caught his wrist.

“Onegai, don’t. Just…just hold me for a bit, please…no da…”

Tasuki felt his heart soar and found the courage to pull the mage back against him and under his chin. His eyes fell closed as well; comforted by the warmth of the man he loved.