C&C is like fuel for the writer.

~The more I learn, the more I see
The less the world empassions me.~

    Chichiri walked quitly through the mountains. His eyes wandered into every space, seeking, learning, living as he had for years before the war. His mask was off and a tear slid over his face, but he didn' t bother to hide his face again. Why should he bother? No one was around to see him. Everybody was rebuilding their lives after the war. //I had nothing to rebuild.//

    The wandering mage sat on a large, dry stone and turned over the plants he had gathered during the day. As he did he thought of all his journey's had shown him. All his path led him to. A hundred wonderful sunsets and sunrises. But lately, even the sun seemed darker.  For each wonder he saw, he grew a little more immune to the beauty he had once loved. It just wasn't real to him anymore. Not with no one to share it with.

    //I thought I had grown used to being alone.// He stood again and continued on, //But it still hurts. Why did I have to change?// A memory, a flash of a fanged grin and burning hair and eyes. //Tasuki. So long has passed, do you even remember me? Of course you do. As a seishi. A comrade. A monk. It's just as well. I'd end up hurting you. I would never want to hurt you.//

    As the sun set Chichiri walked on. Not willing to stop and allow the pain to catch up to him.
 

~The hungry heart, The roving eye
have come to rest
Did not apply~

    Taisuke fought with his men. He wore himself ragged and then pressed on. The Mt. Leiku bandits knew something was wrong with their boss, but no one could figure out what.

    "Yo! Genrou!"

    Taisuke plunged his sword into the practice target and turned with his usual cocky grin. "Kouji."

    "What's wrong?"

    "Nothin' Well, fuck, I mean the last haul brought in a fuckin' fortune. Even after we give enough away we'll have plenty. What would be wrong?"

    "Our treasure room and larders are filled and then some. We don't need any more raids for at least a month. Why do you keep going out?"

    "Need to work off this fuckin' energy. I'm not used to staying put, you know that."

    "Who is she?"

    "Who?"

    "Whoever you lost. Shit it's obvious you're hurting Genrou! What the fuck happened?"

    "Ain't no girl Kouji. I'm just restless."

    "Get anymore restless and you'll do something stupid and get yourself killed. Didn't get through the war to lose you on some half cocked raid."

    "Hey, Kouji, this is me we're talking about."

    "Yeah, that's what worries me."

    "Just shut your fuckin' mouth ok? I'm fine."

    Kouji wandered away and mumbled softly, "Yeah anymore fine and you'd be dead."

    "What?"

    "Nothin'!" He hurried back to the compound and Taisuke kept hacking away at the unfortunate target. //Wonder where he is now. Hope he's ok! Maybe I should take a vacation, go look for him. . . maybe. . . nah. He's a wandering mystical whatever he is. Wouldn't want me to pop up and disturb his journey. But I miss him so much.//

    Like the fire he controled Taisuke felt like he was burning. His memories, his smiles and pain, they all led back to a certain blue haired monk. "Fuck this. I've gotta 'do' something." He went to the stables and took out one of the horses, "You better behave ya fucking glue pot."

    Off course it didn't.

~The frantic chase~

    A blue haired monk ran silently through the wood's, trying to follow a fox kit who had been hurt in a trap.

~The crazy ride~

    A red haired bandet barrled through the forest on the back of the annoyed mount. His screamed obsanities only scaring it into going faster.
 

    Suddenly Taisuke's horse broke threw into a clearing and knocked him off onto the soft ground, "Stupid fuckin' Jack Ass! When I get my hands on you I'm going grind you inta shit and make you eat yourself!"

    "Sounds painful. . . speaking of which, would you mind getting off of me?"

    The bandit stilled. //Oh shit. Oh shit. Ohshitohshitohshit. . .//

    "Anou. . . You're sitting on my bladder."

    He scrambled to his feat and stared at the man he had fallen on. "Chiri!"

    "Taisuke-kun!" The monk stood and placed his mask back on, "What happened?"

    "I went ridding."

    "You hate horses."

    "Obviously the feeling's returned." He rubbed his sore butt and grinned, "Where've you been?! I missed you!"

    "I. . ."
 

~The thrill has gone
I step aside~
 

    As his joy stabilized Taisike noticed that Chichiri was nervous. //Oh, I guess I interupted his quest or something.// "I ah. . . I better get back."

    "But your horse. . ."

    "It'll come back, if it doesn't then good fuckin' riddance."

    "Oh."

    "It was. . . it was great seeing you Chiri."

    "Yeah." He murmured, "You too."

    "Come visit sometime."

    "I. . . I will."

    Taisuke smiled a bit saddly, "You don't have ta lie." He started to walk off, "I'll wait for you anyway."

    The monk watched his friend and secrect crush leave and felt his heart go with him.

    The bandit walked back toward his life, but he left his soul behind, in Chichiri's care.
 

~I'd not believe in anything
were it not for you~
 

    //Chiri. Man I miss him.// Taisuke sat by the lake, a safe distance from the water of course, and threw bread crumbs in, watching the fish and birds hungrily gobble them up. //Never thought I'd be back in one piece, guess I was right.//

    //All through the war you were so damn bright! Always making me smile even when I didn't want to do anything but cry. Damn I miss you. You give me something to believe in, you an' your seishi and then you go away and I'm left picking through my life and finding out it isn't half as perfect as my time near you was. I guess everyone says goodbye sooner or later.//

    He bowed his head and in a flash of anger through the whole loaf to slam into the water. "So why didn't I see it coming?!"
 

~Showing me by just existing
only this is true~
 

    Chichiri watched Taisuke through a scrying mirror and closed his eyes at the angry question. //Don't loose hope Suke-chan. You make me believe in happiness  just by being. Don't give that up. You're too strong to give up.//

    He stood and began walking, so deep in his thoughts that he didn't see which way his feet were leading him. But his subconscious offered only on word. //Home//
 

~I love you.~
 

    "Damn it I loved you Chiri!"
 

~I love you.~
 

    "I love you. . . my bandit."
 

~Without question, I love you.~
 

    Both men frowned on seperate ends of the mountain. Chichiri picked up a flat stone and skipped in across the sluggish river water. Taisuke hurrled a large chunk of granite into the lake with one last yell and curse. Then both turned their backs on the water with a sigh in their hearts.
 

~The more I want, the more I steal
The more I hold the less is real~
 

    After a week of raids Taisuke just gave up. He wanted to see Chichiri, to know he was ok, to talk to him, be near him. This love thing was driving him completely insane and fuck but he liked it! Still it hurt because chiri wasn't there so he went on raid after raid. Stealing so he wouldn't feel the emptiness as much. It didn't work.

    He lay staring at the ceiling of his room, wondering where his friend was at that moment. Of course if you put thoughts of a certain blue haired monk, Taisuke, and a bed in the same place. . .
 

~a world of things,
I follow blind
in hope that faith was feeling kind~
 

    Unaware of his friend's conflicts and distraction, Chichiri was experiening his own. He had followed his feat to wherever they were going and found himself standing outside the bandit hideout.

    //We have to resolve this or neither of us will heal.//  With that thought he strode passed the guards and into Taisuke's chambers. All of his drive was sucked from him when he saw the flame haired man writhing on the bed, eyes closed, hand rubbing his throbbing erection. He was close and Chichiri cried out, unable to stop himself when he hear his name being torn from the other man's lips.

    At the unfamiliar cry Taisuke jumped and covered himself, "Chiri! What are you doing here! I mean welcome. . . I mean. . . shit!"
 

~The line is drawn~
 

    Moving quietly the monk covered his friends mouth for silence, "You were thinking about me."

    "Shit, Chiri don't freak or anything, I'm sorry I just. . ."

    Chichiri quieted him with a kiss.
 

~the change is made~
 

    "Chi. . . Chiri. Are you sure?"
 

~I come to you~
 

    "I love you."
 

~I'm not afraid~
 

    "Chiri."
 

~I'd not believe in anything
were it not for you~
 

    They fell back together onto the bed, kisses and touches reassurances that this wasn't just another dream. "I love you Chichiri. I love you so much."

    "Don't let me go."

    "Never."
 

~Showing me by just existing
only this is true~
 

    "Don't ever leave again!"

    "Taisuke. . ."

    "Please."

    "I will have to go sometimes, but you'll be joining me."
 

~I love you.~
 

    "Fuck! Chichiri! I love you!"

~I love you.~

    "Gods! Taisuki!"

~Without question, I love you.~
 

    The lay sated in eachothers arms, heavy breathing and racing heart finally slowing a bit. "Chiri I. . . that was. . ."

    "Love."

    "Yeah."
 

~I'd not believe in anything
were it not for you
Showing me by just existing
only this is true
I love you.
I love you.
Without question, I love you.~
 
 

~Owari~