Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Burned ❯ Stoking the Flames ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Burned

Written by: KittyLynne

Legal disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Fushigi Yuugi or its characters; they belong to the immensely talented Yuu Watase. I do claim the rights to the original elements of plot and characterization in this tale, as well as the narrative and dialogue. Any reproduction of this story in any form without my written consent will be regarded as theft and/or plagiarism, and will be dealt with accordingly.

Author's notes: Rated M for language, adult conversation and situations. Spoilers for series warning. Mild sap warning, and another reminder that this story is set a few years after the first OAV where Tenkou was initially sealed away by the four gods. The second OAV hasn't occurred.
I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of my wonderful beta reader. Spak, you're truly a treasure to me-your help has been invaluable, and your warm, patient encouragement has kept me going on this when I was ready to throw in the proverbial towel. Thank you so much.

Chapter Three: Stoking the Flames

It was with an unusually strong sense of excitement that Tasuki entered the large stable located behind the inn. Though he had never enjoyed traveling on horseback or dealing with horses in general, today was a notable exception. The thought of having that much uninterrupted time with Miaka- not to mention having her sweet little body pressed against his for hours on end- had him ready and eager to saddle up.

Wrinkling his nose against the earthy scent of fresh droppings, he walked up to the stall that held Kado, the powerful, creamy white stallion that had been presented as a gift to him from the Empress Dowager. Though he greatly appreciated the gesture, he couldn't help smirking a little at the choice Houki had made. Never thought I'd own a white horse. Ain't a good choice for a Reikaku bandit, that's for sure!

The steed was obviously well trained and stood patiently as Tasuki saddled him and then tied on sacks holding various provisions. After he was satisfied everything was secure, the bandit seishi dipped into one of the bags and pulled out a carrot.

"Hey boy, I got somethin' for ya." He crooned, extending his hand. "You deserve a reward."

Kado eyed the treat for a moment, and then stretched out his neck to take a tentative sniff. In the next stall, Chichiri paused in saddling his own mount to watch the stallion daintily lip up the treat. "That was well done, Tasuki! I think you've made a friend, no da." He remarked approvingly.

"Hope you're right." The bandit replied. "It'd be a damn long trek if he decides he doesn't like who he's travelin' with."

"Then you had better bring a lot of extra bribes if you want to get through the desert in one piece this time, no da!"

Tasuki flashed a sarcastic grin at the snickering monk. "Thanks for th' suggestion, wiseass, but I already thought of that!" He pointed to the bulging sacks hanging over the stallion's flanks. "I got plenty for both of us this time!"

Both men laughed as the horse chose that opportune moment to give his new owner a less-than-gentle nudge for another treat. After complying with the demand, Tasuki reached out to stroke a hand down his mount's broad, velvety muzzle. "Heya big guy...we're goin' on an adventure with a lady! I'm gonna need your help to keep her safe on th' ride- are ya up for doin' that?"

The stallion nickered agreeably as he lowered his head in acceptance of his master's touch. The bandit warrior was pleased. "Good boy, Kado. We're gonna get along fine."

Chichiri absently rubbed the side of his jaw where his mask met his neck, wondering how to broach his next subject. "That reminds me..." he began carefully, "...have we decided who Miaka is going to be riding with, no da?"

"She's with me." Tasuki's glare made it clear it wasn't a point for discussion.

"I see." The monk was silent for a moment. "Is there...anything else you need to tell me about the two of you?"

The bandit bit off an expletive. He'd never been good at hiding his deeper feelings, and he knew his all-too-perceptive friend had just read him like a book that began and ended with Miaka. "Yeah, maybe." He hedged, blushing and fidgeting under the elder seishi's bland but relentless gaze. "But this ain't the time. She's alone an' waitin' for us."

Chichiri opened his mouth, then closed it. Heaving a resigned sigh, he turned back to his horse. "All right. Whenever you're ready, no da."

Miaka could feel her heart thudding with anticipation as she made her way to the lower level of the inn. The few minutes she'd been apart from Tasuki seemed like hours, and she couldn't wait to see him again.

Thankfully, the staff was still busy in the kitchen or serving breakfast to the crowds in the Inn's restaurant, so no one appeared to delay her. It didn't take long to locate the rear exit Chichiri had described. The thick, wooden door swung outwards; she stepped through it onto a small veranda. After taking an appreciative breath of clear, unpolluted air, she walked to the balustrade, and looked out over a spacious expanse of grass to the thatch-roofed, stone building that served as a stable. At present the wooden double doors were closed, and her warriors were nowhere in sight. Glad that she had not kept them waiting, she strolled to the steps, set down her backpack, and then leaned against the railing to survey her surroundings.

The sky was cloudless and as intensely blue as it was possible for the heavens to be. The trees and manicured bushes that bordered the property were in full foliage, and the sweet scent of herbs and flowers growing in a nearby garden filled the air. It was clearly going to be another lovely day in Konan. Nevertheless, she was thankful for the unseasonably cool breeze that somewhat tempered the heat of the sun. Even with the lightweight fabrics used, she wasn't accustomed to being covered from shoulders to feet in the summertime. Shorts and a t-shirt were much more her style.

Still, she'd been absolutely delighted by the beautiful outfit Chichiri had procured for her, and surprised that he'd found something so strongly reminiscent of the robes she'd worn as a priestess. The only differences were that the underskirt was made of brocade instead of sheer tulle, and that there was an exquisitely embroidered dudao to wear beneath the red over robe, instead of a bejeweled bird's claw necklace. She still blushed a little to think that the monk had given consideration to buying undergarments for her, but she was also grateful for his thoughtfulness. The more substantial brocade would provide protection from saddle sores, and the halter-style breast cloth would provide much needed support during what was sure to be a bumpy ride.

After dressing with great care, she'd been determined to match the rest of her appearance to the elegance of her attire. She'd brushed her unruly hair until it shone, and then gathered and plaited it into a single thick braid that she draped over one shoulder. After that, she had hooked jade teardrop dangles into her ears, dabbed herself with a subtle fragrance, and applied lipstick as her only cosmetic; her glowing eyes needed no artificial enhancement, and the heightened color in her cheeks made blush unnecessary.

When she had finished her primping, her hand mirror had shown that she was looking her best. Loving someone and being thoroughly loved in return certainly was a very effective beauty treatment, she thought with a sigh. Though she'd never been one to be overly concerned with her looks, she couldn't help hoping that Tasuki would notice the vast improvement in her appearance
.
A sudden movement in front of her caught her eye; the door to the stable was swinging open. Shading her eyes with a hand, the priestess watched as Chichiri emerged, holding onto the bridle of an elegant, chestnut-colored steed. He spotted her in an instant, waved, and turned off to one side as Tasuki appeared behind him, leading a majestic white stallion. Chichiri spoke to the bandit, who turned to look at her, lifting a hand. Miaka returned the gesture with enthusiasm, then felt her pulse quicken as Tasuki turned his mount and headed in her direction with a purposeful stride.

He's coming for me. She thought happily. He wants to be with me. The knowledge thrilled her, made her heart catch fire.

Until this moment, she hadn't realized just how frightened she'd been that her capacity to love had completely disappeared with Tamahome. Her powerful reaction to Tasuki had now proved that it hadn't vanished at all; she'd simply allowed that kind of feeling to freeze over for a time. Much as the ice serpents of Hikitsu had done to her in the Cavern of Genbu, the loss of someone she'd loved so deeply had held her in frigid, paralyzing coils of misery. In retrospect, it had been almost prophetic that Tasuki had saved her way back then.

"For ice, ya need fire," he had said at the time. "An' for fire, I'm your man."

Those words carried a more profound meaning than she could have ever imagined. Tasuki was her man. His fire renewed her, protected and sustained her, restored love and passion to her life. The flame he'd ignited was eternal; when at last they had to part, the memory of it would continue to blaze inside of her, keeping her hopes alive and a frozen existence at bay.

Though it was a bittersweet thought, Miaka smiled.

Being burned had never felt so good.

She was a vision in red.

As Tasuki reached the steps where Miaka stood, he brought Kado to a halt with a muttered command, all the while continuing to stare at the woman standing before him. The sun shone down upon her like a benevolent caress from the gods, turning her auburn hair into a golden red nimbus. Her eyes sparkled, her delicate face was flushed with excitement, and her smile of welcome sent warmth surging through him.

Slowly, his gaze drifted lower to the long, graceful neck and soft skin visible above the square cut neckline of her tunic, lingered at the suggestion of shadow between her breasts, then dropped down the length of her silk garments. The glossy material slipped gently over her feminine curves, concealing and revealing all at once.

Seeing her dressed this way brought back a host of memories, the foremost of them being the day she'd first tried to summon Suzaku. He'd always thought she was rather cute, but in her priestess garb she'd been beautiful. It was the first glimpse he'd gotten of the woman she was to be...and he'd been transfixed. Since then, she'd definitely realized that potential and then some. In his eyes, she'd never looked more beautiful or desirable than now.

As the silence lengthened, Miaka smoothed her skirt, and then began to fiddle with the gold sash wrapped around her slim waist. "Tasuki? Does this outfit look okay on me? Did I tie the obi right? I'd almost forgotten how-"

"The obi's fine!" He blurted, causing her to glance up in surprise. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Ya look great!"

The words were inadequate, but she looked as satisfied as if he'd recited a romantic soliloquy. "Thank you." She ran her hands down the sides of her tunic, and then lightly touched the edge of its neckline. "I hoped that you'd like seeing me in traditional dress."

The comment and the gesture fired his blood. Suddenly, he was no longer tongue-tied. "Hell yeah, I like!" He said huskily. "Come over here an' I'll show ya how much!"

For a heart thumping moment it seemed as if Miaka would follow the directive, but then, much to his disappointment, decorum won out.

"I...I don't think I better." She murmured, after a furtive glance at the stables. "Chichiri is watching us."

"Then I'll come to you." He countered. Not giving her time to object, he tied Kado's lead to a railing at bottom of the steps, giving the horse a pat of approval and murmured word of praise as it stood patiently and perfectly motionless.

Miaka was standing two steps above him, which put her face just above his eye level. It was only a short reach for her hand, and she didn't try to resist him as he captured it and brought it to his mouth. Slowly, he bent his head and pressed a lingering kiss to the back of it, paying homage to her in the manner he'd done the night before. Now, as then, her breathing hitched and quickened with feminine awareness. Hearing the sound made him smile internally; playing the part of a respectable suitor wasn't his forte, but he could get used to it in a hurry if she always reacted to him in this way.

He clasped her delicate hand in both of his as he straightened and looked up. Might as well do the thing right and ask her properly. "Pretty lady, will ya do me th' great honor of sharin' my horse?"

Cheeks ablaze, she simply smiled and nodded.
A single day could make a remarkable difference, Miaka reflected, a few minutes and a mile or so later.

Twenty four hours ago she had been depressed and alone, her only physical contact with men coming from fighting with them for a seat on a train or a bus. Now here she was in an ancient land, riding sidesaddle on a magnificent white horse, dressed in fine silk, and ensconced within the arms of the handsome, chivalrous warrior that she loved with all her heart. It was a romantic fantasy come true, a scene taken straight out of an epic movie or one of her favorite fairy tales.

Problem is, there's not a guaranteed 'happily ever after' in this book. She thought moodily. For once, I'd like to be the one that lives that ending.

Unwilling to continue along that path of thinking, Miaka turned her attention back to her surroundings. They were in the outer ring of the business district, which housed a handful of permanent stalls. By the looks of it, it served as an initial gathering place for those who'd come to try their luck at selling in the city, which meant that although Chichiri and Tasuki had avoided traversing the main thoroughfare of the capital, they were still riding in the midst of a sizeable, bustling crowd.

As they rode along, she also couldn't help noticing that their Imperial- caliber mounts were drawing many curious, interested glances from those making their way into the heart of the commerce district. It wasn't a surprise that a great many recognized two of the riders as Suzaku warriors, and soon began to offer warm hails of praise and blessing, as well as bows of the deepest respect.

Chichiri reined in his mount close to the white horse. "I was afraid of this, no da." He said in a low voice. "That flaming hair of yours is a dead giveaway, Tasuki."

The wing seishi snorted. "An' th' mask and that weird rooster tail of yours ain't?"

Miaka hastened to interrupt, knowing all too well how quickly the two warriors' bickering could get out of hand. "Please! Don't be concerned on my account!" She urged, glancing from one to the other. "It makes me so happy to see you being honored in this way! For all that you've done for Konan, you deserve the highest respect, and much more!"

Chichiri looked surprised, and then a bit flustered. "Thank you, Miaka. You're kind to say that, no da."

Tasuki gave her a cocky grin. "When ya put it like that, I guess we can't complain!"

"I'm glad to hear it." Their priestess replied warmly. Satisfied that harmony had been restored between the two guardians, she looked forward once more, falling silent as her thoughts returned to her previous times in the book.

It was true that many people had seen her back then, but there was really no reason to be concerned or nervous about it, she told herself firmly. The odds that anyone would connect her, a brooding, mature woman of twenty five, with the cheerful, baby-faced fifteen-year-old who'd served as their priestess were small at best. Not only that, the legend stated that the Priestess had to remain in her world when her duties were finished, so there was no reason for them to think Suzaku no miko would return to their midst.

However, that reasoning brought another question to mind- just why had she been able to return to Konan? Had Taiits-kun changed her mind about the rules of separation? Or perhaps it was her steely resolve to find Tamahome had gotten her here? It wasn't boasting to think that; she knew she had a strong will. If she hadn't, she couldn't have survived using the power of a god. Her eyes widened. Suzaku-seikun...was it possible the beast god had heard her heart's unknowing cry for help and had shown her compassion?

A bouquet of wildflowers landed squarely in her lap, interrupting her muse in a startling but very nice way. Miaka looked up quickly, wondering who had thrown it.

"A gift for a beautiful lady!" A handsome young merchant called out, as he passed by in his wagon.

She blushed under the warmth of his appreciative gaze, and acknowledged the offering with a shy smile and a nod of the head. Her admirer responded with a quick grin and an elaborate half bow before turning his attention back to his driving.

Still smiling, Miaka turned to display the bouquet to her companions. "Aren't they pretty? What a nice man!" She declared, happily burying her nose in sweet floral fragrance.

Chichiri glanced sideways at Tasuki, whose expression had darkened. "A very brave man." He observed.

"A man with a death wish!" The bandit retorted, turning in the saddle to glare daggers at the vendor's retreating figure.

"Forget him, no da!" The monk ordered, suddenly sounding tense. "Take a look at what's happening ahead of us!"

Tasuki quickly faced forward, and scowled at what met his eyes. Several young men, some on conveyances and some on foot, were starting to gradually close ranks on them from all sides. "What th' hell is all this?"

"It was Miaka's acceptance of the flowers, no da." Chichiri replied in a low tone. "A lady of high status has shown she favors one of their own, and it's given them hope."

Miaka laid the bouquet in her lap, looking upset. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that thanking him would cause this sort of trouble."

The mage seishi shook his head. "There's no need for an apology, no da. Unconditional love and acceptance are integral parts of your power as Suzaku no miko." He gave her a warm smile. "In addition to that, your chi is much stronger now, so it's bound to attract others to you."

"Oh!" She hadn't realized. Taiits-kun had said she'd possessed her own special powers, but she'd never been certain what they were.

She glanced at Tasuki, wondering what he thought of the matter. The mute inquiry went unnoticed, however, for he was wholly preoccupied with the handful of brash young vendors that had begun to surround them, calling out for the 'beautiful lady' to dismount so they could 'show her their wares'. Though they were seated high above the crowd and still moving, the haranguing was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

When several young men started to run alongside the stallion, it became apparent that Tasuki had had enough. Transferring the reins to one hand, he cinched a possessive arm about her waist and turned a menacing, hard-eyed glare upon the group. They heeded the warning and scattered. The bandit chuckled scornfully as he watched them go, and then turned to his brother seishi.

"Chiri! Let's haul ass before I end up havin' to fry these poor fools!"

The monk gave him a curt nod of approval. "Let's go, no da!"

They first urged the horses to a fast trot as a warning, unwilling to take a chance on trampling anyone. When the crowd around them fell back to a safe distance, they upped the trot to a canter, and then broke into a gallop as they finally cleared the outer rim of the throng.

A bit unnerved by the precariousness of her position, Miaka leaned into the hollow between Tasuki's shoulder and chest, as her hand reflexively rose to grab hold of one of the leather straps crossing his chest. She relaxed as she managed to steady herself, only to tense once again in dismay as she realized she'd forgotten about the flowers resting on her lap. As her other arm was trapped against her seishi's hard torso, she was powerless to prevent the mass of blossoms and greenery from slipping from its perch and falling to the ground.

Tasuki glanced down just in time to see the bouquet disappearing under Kado's hooves. For a moment what looked like intense satisfaction flickered in his expression, but it was gone so quickly, she couldn't be sure.

"Sorry, Mi-chan, but we can't stop or we'll be surrounded by that gaggle." He stated gruffly, jerking his head towards a large caravan of merchants approaching from the opposite direction.

"That's all right, it's my own stupid fault for dropping them! " She replied with forced cheer. I've never gotten any as a gift before. I wish I could have kept one for my diary. "At least I got to enjoy them for a little while. I'd forgotten how much I love flowers."

"Then I'll get ya some more!" Tasuki promised at once. "The prettiest ones I can find!"

She stared up at him, amazed by the offer. Even over a matter as petty and inconsequential as this, Tasuki cared about her feelings. Knowing that he did was a far better gift than the flowers, and one she didn't think she deserved.

"Thank you so much!" She said, giving him what she knew was a blatantly adoring look. "I'll love them much more if they're from you."

He didn't reply, but the soft-eyed glance he gave her in return told her all she needed to know.

They rode onward, through flat, low lying farmland, which eventually transformed into rolling pastures bisected by streams and wandering side roads. After almost two hours, they came to a wayside pavilion, a perfect place for a break. The bamboo roofed, open walled structure provided welcome respite from the sun, and the public well next to it provided sustenance for the thirsty travelers and their sweaty mounts.

As she stretched out her cramped muscles, Miaka delighted in watching as the two horses stretched out their heads, sniffed each other, touched noses, and then began to nuzzle one another's necks. She'd never really paid much attention to the magnificent creatures in her previous time in the book; they had just been four legged transports to her. This time around she found them fascinating to watch. If the extremely friendly way they were grooming each other was anything to go by, it appeared that this budding acquaintance could blossom into a full-blown romance!

Aware that her companions would probably think her overly fanciful, Miaka kept the notion to herself; however, it didn't stop her from thinking it romantic and very sweet that both animals were contentedly taking turns in munching the carrots that Tasuki had brought to them.

It occurred to her then that she didn't even know the horses' names. She asked Chichiri, who had come to stand next to her.

"The stallion is called Kado, and the mare is Aya." He informed her cheerfully.

"They make a beautiful couple." She said, smiling.

"An unlikely one as well, no da." The monk responded. "Kado was trained by the head stable master for the Imperial army, and Aya was broken to be ridden by the ladies of the court, so they were housed in different quarters. If they had stayed where they were, they couldn't have met."

"An' if they hadn't, the lady would've missed out big time!" Tasuki added, as he joined them.

His eyes sparkled with unholy laughter, but Miaka refused to let herself get flustered. "What do you mean?"

The bandit seishi smirked. "Are ya sure ya really want to know?"

"Tasuki means that Kado and Aya have to be kept apart at night unless we want a colt on the way, no da." Chichiri interjected, with an exasperated glance at the younger man.

"Ohhh..." With widened eyes, Miaka glanced at Kado, just in time to see the stallion's gender extend to full length and emit a yellow stream. She blinked, then stared in disbelief, not sure if she should be horrified or impressed. To put it bluntly, the thing was...huge. There was no way that the smaller and finer boned mare could ever handle something that big- could she?

"If I were Aya, I'd run like crazy." She said, half under her breath.

"Kado's faster. He'd chase her down." Tasuki informed her. "Trust me, Aya will have a lot better time if she doesn't fight it. Nature has a way of takin' care of things..."

Though his tone was matter-of-fact, his sidelong glance was rife with sexual mischief. Miaka's tummy fluttered, and her face felt as if it had caught on fire. Were they still talking about the horses? "I...I suppose it does."

Their gazes held as the air grew heavy with pleasurable tension- tension that quickly dissipated when Chichiri gave a discreet cough.

"Would anyone like a carrot, no da?"

After they went to rest in the shade of the pavilion, Miaka's discomfiture over the horses gradually faded. Stuffing her mouth full of carrot had helped, because it kept her from saying anything that could be construed as provocative. It also helped that Tasuki took pity on her and kept his teasing to a minimum.

Soon it was time to move on. Though she could have mounted Kado all by herself, Miaka found she enjoyed being lifted into the saddle as if she weighed no more than a feather. Tasuki's gallantry made her feel wonderfully feminine, as did riding within his protective embrace. She loved how he was taking care of her, and relished being treated like a lady for once in her life. It was a step backwards for a modern, independent young woman to admit that, she supposed, but she didn't feel one iota of feminist guilt. There was no harm in letting him pamper her, as long as she made sure to do things for him in return.

Pleasure quickly faded to remorse at the thought. She hadn't taken care of Tasuki. Telling him she loved him was only the first step; she also needed to show him how much he meant to her. She had no right to be satisfied and content when she hadn't made him feel everything he'd made her feel. That was going to change right now. Of course, there was only so much she could get away with out in plain sight, but she would do as much as she safely could to express the strength of her feelings for the fiery seishi.

Taking a deep breath, she allowed herself to sway towards him, until her cheek was pressed lightly against one side of his muscular chest.

"You okay?" He asked, looking down at her.

"Couldn't be better." She replied, liking the way concern softened his voice.

"Go ahead and get some sleep if ya want." He offered. "I don't mind."

"I'm not sleepy." She said softly, and then proved the statement by moving her head forward so she could gently nuzzle the side of his neck, much as she'd seen Aya and Kado do to each other at the pavilion.

An audible intake of air gave her pause, but when Tasuki made no further objection, she continued. After a moment, she felt his chest lift and drop in a deep sigh, and the clear acceptance of her affections encouraged her to improvise, adding feather-light touches of her tongue tip and a teasing nibble or two to her repertoire. When her mouth fastened onto his neck, he tensed slightly, his fingers flexing on her waist. Nevertheless, she kept going, drawing tiny circles on his skin with her tongue tip before daringly sucking in a bit of his skin into her mouth to give him a small but noticeable love bite.

Retaliation was sudden and swift. Rivulets of shocked pleasure coursed through her as the masculine hand splayed over her ribs shot upwards to cup her breast.

"Tasuki, no!" She exclaimed breathily, drawing back from her pleasurable task to look up at him.

He didn't answer, just slanted her an unrepentant grin before directing his gaze back to the road.

A quick glance forward told her that Chichiri was riding slightly more than two horse lengths ahead of them. Another glance down showed her that her uplifted arm hid the position of her seishi's hand from all from the most discerning view. As long as she didn't move her arm and they stayed behind the monk, and all he did was hold it, things would stay discreet. If not-

As if in answer to her thoughts, Tasuki began to mold and caress the mound of flesh he held with a confident and unhurried sensuality. As the warmth of his hand seeped beneath the silk, her nipple hardened in response, poking through the silk and into his palm, shamelessly begging for attention. He responded with gratifying speed, first rubbing it lightly and then grasping and rolling it between finger and thumb. When he began to tug at the aroused peak, simulating suction, Miaka tipped her head back and bit her bottom lip hard to keep from whimpering.

Her seishi's breath caressed her ear, and his lips pressed a brief, hot kiss against her temple before he spoke to her in what amounted to a seductive purr.

"Ya don't have to hold it in, y'know. I'll make sure no one can hear ya but me."

It wasn't fair! How the heck was she supposed to administer to him while reeling under an erotic barrage of his own sexual attentions? Not only that, she didn't dare move her free arm, lest Chichiri or someone else along the road would see what was being done to her! Really, the only thing she did have use of was her mouth- and words!

Now there was an idea. No need to hold it in, he had said. Well then, she wouldn't! She'd simply have to tell him what it was that she wanted to do! Granted, it was something she'd normally never think of doing, but nothing about this situation was normal. She had to prove to Tasuki that his needs were of paramount importance to her before it was too late. Embarrassment and girlish modesty had no place in that equation. If she held back, she'd bitterly regret it for the rest of her life.

Her breathing quickened in anticipation, and her heart thundered in time with the rapid pounding of hooves. Sly fingers continued their work, teasing and arousing her. A slow, throbbing pulse began to beat between her legs, but she forced herself to ignore the seductive rhythm.

"Tasuki." The edge of arousal was in her voice.

He glanced down at her, wearing an intense expression. "Do ya like that?"

"Oh yes." A quiet moan slipped through her lips. It would be so easy to lose herself in the sensations he was creating. "You're getting me that way again."

"Really? What way is that?" He gave her a teasing smirk, clearly thinking she'd be too bashful to reply.

He was in for a surprise.

"You know..." She wiggled a little for emphasis. "All wet."

The smirk disappeared as he swallowed hard, and the sensuous motion of his hand slowed a bit. "I am, huh?"

"Mmm hmm..." Her gaze was heavy-lidded. "And you know what else?"

"What's that?" He asked, sounding hoarse.

"I ache for you." She confessed. "I want to touch you the way you're touching me."

His response was delayed as his hips shifted a little. "Ya do, huh."

"Oh gods, yes!" Her eyes closed as she imagined herself doing it, then slowly opened to reveal the blaze of desire those thoughts had ignited. "I want to run my hands over you and feel the warmth of your skin beneath my lips." She paused at his sharp inhalation. "And then... I want to lick you."

Amber eyes went wide, then black with passion. His voice was a feral growl. "Miaka..."

Her lips parted as she moistened them. "I bet you'll taste like cinnamon, all hot and sweet and spicy." The fiery heat of a blush prickled her skin, but she ignored it; there was no way she was going to hide herself from this man. "You have the most beautiful body, I can't wait to taste all of it..."

The muscular thighs on either side of her moved restlessly. His hand opened, encompassed and massaged the whole of her breast, rousing her even more.

"I want to hear you moan my name as I make you hot and weak." She continued with reckless abandon. "I want to love you with my mouth! I want you to come for me, again and again-"

"Miaka!" Her name was an explosion from between clenched teeth.

Undaunted, she released her grip on his holster strap to gently run her hand over his chest, no longer caring if anyone saw the caress. A ragged breath escaped him as she pinpointed his nipple. She circled it with a fingertip, bringing it to a pebble-like peak, delighting in the deep groan the action elicited. A pulse visibly throbbed just below his jaw line; she bent forward to press her closed lips to it, and then parted them so her tongue could take measure of its rapid beat.

Another low groan vibrated beneath her touch, and she peered up through her lashes to see if her ministrations had produced the desired result. They had. Tasuki's darkly flushed cheeks, blazing eyes and quickened breathing all attested to the fact that he was enjoying what she was doing to him. Nevertheless, his lips parted to issue a protest.

"Dammit Odango, ya hafta stop."

There was no conviction in his voice but even if there had been, it was too late for having second thoughts; she'd sent propriety and restraint to hell in a hand basket and didn't care a whit about getting them back. Tasuki deserved to hear the truth about how he made her feel, and nothing mattered more than expressing her love for him. Nothing.

"I can't stop, Tasuki-kun." She said quietly. "Not until I've given myself to you in every way possible."

She was tormenting him with pleasure, and killing him with words. He was so hard now that he was in peril of exploding without contact, but could he summon the strength to look away, to stop her from fooling around with his nipples, or to even get his hand off her breast?

Hell no.

Could he imagine her touching and tasting him, and giving herself to him in every way possible?

Dammit, he could. In vivid detail.

And the sweet torture continued.

"I mean it, Tasuki!" She said, with quiet intensity. "I'll do anything I can to please you- just tell me what you want of me!"

A litany of sexual positions instantly flew through his brain, knowledge garnered from a handful of professionals. However, their practiced, experienced ways had absolutely nothing on his sweet, virgin priestess. A single touch from her untutored hand would bring him more ecstasy than he'd ever known...

Kuso! His control was slipping badly, and they were miles away from any suitable place for that. Although, to be honest, where and when had never mattered to him before. Since when did I become such a fuckin' paragon of virtue? He thought acidly. Since ya fell in love. His conscience replied sharply. You love Miaka, and you want it to make it as good as ya can for her.
It was true. Her needs came first with him, and always would. He needed to put a stop to this for her own good. "Miaka, that's enough!"

The hurt that flared in her eyes made him wince.

"But Tasuki-" She broke off, swallowed hard, tried again. "Don't-don't you like it?"

He gave a short, agonized laugh. "Hell yeah! Enough that I wanna go somewhere, strip down an' have ya do it all right now!"

There was a crackling silence before she spoke.

"Then what's stopping you?"

She was dead serious, he could tell. His body responded by sending a fresh surge of blood to his groin, making his erection almost unbearable. "It wouldn't be right!" He protested feebly. "For the first time, you should have a nice room, an' a bed, an' all of th' frills!"

Her voice poured over him like warm honey, submersing his qualms in a flow of sweet desire. "There is no wrong time or place if it's you! I love you, Tasuki."

That did it. To hell with virtue, he'd have her right now. They'd ride off into the woods to find a clearing, or a leafy bower, or a fallen tree, and-

A faint hail disrupted his carnal scheming and jerked him back to reality. "Tasuki! Everything all right back there, no da?"

A muscle worked in the bandit's jaw as a surge of frustrated rage rendered him temporarily speechless. Then, as he realized what had happened, he let out a long, muttered string of curses. While he and Miaka had been messing around, he'd carelessly allowed Kado to drop into a meandering plod. Chichiri was right to show concern for their lagging behind; he'd gotten so far ahead of Kado that the next bend in the road would've taken him completely out of sight.

"Tasuki! What's going on, no da?"

After forcing himself to draw in and release a couple of calming breaths, the redhead managed to answer the summons. "We're just takin' a breather, Chiri! Keep going-we'll catch up in a minute!" No matter how frustrating the interruption, it wasn't fair to get mad at someone who was only thinking of their combined safety. Besides, it wasn't like the man would have had any idea of what had been going on anyway, right?

The blue-haired seishi waved in acknowledgement, and slowed the pace of his mount. Though he knew the gesture was well intended, Tasuki glowered at the sight.

"I'm so sorry!"

He switched his glare to the object of his frustration, whose eyes were two huge pools of green in her pale face. "I can't imagine why!" He snapped, as he jerked his hand back to her waist. Paradise denied, once again.

She flinched at the bite in his tone. "I-I forgot about him-I really wasn't trying to-I mean, I really wanted to do what I said! Please, you have to believe me!"

The misery and frustration etched in her expression mirrored his own, and he softened a bit. "Ah, just forget it! We both got carried away."

She shook her head. "No, it's my fault! I started it!"

That was certainly true, but he couldn't blame her. Women had a lot harder time controlling their emotions, after all, so he should have been the one to stop things before they got out of hand. The damndest thing about the whole thing was that he'd been willing to let her take the lead for once-not that he'd ever admit that to her! "Miaka, really, it's okay-"

"No it's not!" She insisted. "I need to explain!"

He was in no state of mind to listen to a drawn-out, overly complicated analysis of the situation. He even opened his mouth to tell her so, but faltered under the impact of her imploring gaze.

"Please?" She whispered.

He made a helpless, impatient gesture. "Go ahead an' explain!"

Her hand moved to her braid, and nervously began to stroke it. "I know it couldn't be helped, but it's really been bothering me that what happened between us this morning was one-sided," she began.

He gave a vague nod, his eyes now riveted on her moving fingers. It was easy to picture her stroking his flesh in the same way...but he wouldn't, because he'd go crazy! Clenching his jaw against temptation, he forced himself to focus his attention on what she was saying.

"I mean, you've made me so happy, given me this incredible pleasure, and I haven't done anything for you." She continued doggedly. "Even worse, as I thought back to previous times, I could see that seems to be a trend with us. I thought if I let you know how much I want to touch you, and what I want to do to make you happy, it would at least be a start to making things even." Her hand stilled, and her eyes misted with remorse as she gazed at him. "I really messed up, Tasuki. I shocked and angered you instead of making you feel loved."

He stared at her, feeling a glowing warmth filling his chest, a source of heat that owed nothing to physical need. Miaka had taken a risk in publicly demonstrating her feelings for him, had overcome shyness and embarrassment in talking explicitly about her desires, and had been trying to provoke him into taking her in less than ideal circumstances, all because she had wanted to make him happy. It was the kind of contorted logic only a female could come up with...but what the hell, he liked it. And loved her for doing it.

"I ain't shocked, just surprised." He told her honestly. "I'm not used to hearin' stuff like that from ya."

"It was a stupid idea." She murmured, looking abashed. "I sounded like a whore."

"That's not what I meant!" He barked, mentally cursing himself for the clumsy words. "A whore would talk like that to any guy she was with! Ya wouldn't say that kinda stuff to just anyone, would ya?"

"Of course I wouldn't!" Her gaze was unwavering. "Only to you."

"Because ya love me," he added, wanting to hear it confirmed.

"Because I love you more than anything, " she corrected softly.

He loved her more and told her so, then put an exclamation on the point by bending his head and capturing her mouth with his. As the kiss deepened, she melted against him, parting her lips to receive the eager thrust of his tongue.

After tasting her as thoroughly and as long as he dared, Tasuki forced himself to break the kiss. "There ya go." He said unsteadily. "I got absolutely no problems with you talkin' that way, as long as it's just to me! If I'm actin' like an ass about what you said, it's because I've never been good at waitin' for what I want." He wiggled his hips in an attempt to ease his aching loins. "Suzaku help me, I'm so damn hard for ya it hurts!"

"Oh no..." Tears of apology sprang to her eyes.

"Don't worry!" He added hastily. "It's all gonna be good."

She blinked rapidly, spiking her lashes with moisture. "It will?"

"Yeah." His grin was as predatory as it could be. "Because you're gonna make it that way!"

Her answering smile was bright, but it faded quickly. "I'll do my best, if Suzaku will permit me the chance."

Cold dread washed over him at the rapid change in her expression. "Why th' hell wouldn't he?"

"Because I'm breaking a celestial law by being here." She confessed unhappily. "The legend said that a priestess will always return to her world after her role has been fulfilled. Taiits-kun told me I had fulfilled my duties, so then why was I was allowed to return? How long do you think I'll be able to get away with staying here?"

Tasuki frowned. Having been so caught up in his newfound feelings, he hadn't considered what consequences her return could bring.

At first glance, Miaka's presence in his world could be viewed as a reward for her faithful service, or possibly as a granted wish to be with her first love, but then shouldn't Suzaku or Taiits-kun have appeared and said so by now? No, they wouldn't, he corrected himself. Taiits-kun had made it clear that sacred law mandated eternal separation between the two worlds when the priestess had fulfilled her duties. There wouldn't be any reason for her to show up other than to send Miaka home, something the old hag seemed to be an expert at doing...

The bandit's frown deepened to a scowl as he recalled their last parting, in which Tamahome had been forced to break things off with Miaka and return his ring to her. It had been the worst kind of agony having to stand by and helplessly watch as Miaka turned her back on love, holding the token of its existence between tightly clasped hands, her heartbreak etched in her every step and glance. It had felt as if a knife had been plunged into his heart when, amidst a deluge of tears, she had managed to utter a few choked words of thanks to all of her warriors. It had also hurt like hell seeing her brought to her knees as she struggled so hard to say goodbye...but it was her anguished, wailing denial of fate as the red light finally took her away that had finally shattered his composure.

After Miaka and Yui vanished, he'd knelt, and twin rivers of tears had coursed down his cheeks as he prayed. Great Suzaku, watch over Mi-chan. Help her find the will to go on...

So maybe that was why she'd been allowed to come back. Perhaps Suzaku had thought Miaka needed help; after all, she'd attempted suicide once before when thinking she'd lost Tamahome for good. No, that couldn't be it! He argued silently. She really grew up after that! She faced down Nakago and withstood the coupling with Suzaku! At the end, she was as strong as all of us put together!

That left one more possibility for her presence here- that a threat to Konan still existed. But how could there be, with Tenkou was safely sealed away and all of the leaders of Kutou's evil empire overthrown? Peace had at last been established between Konan, Hokkan, Sairo and Kutou, so why would a priestess be needed? What had been left undone?

Miaka's voice pulled him away from his musings. "Tasuki? Could I tell you one more thing?"

He wiped his scowl away and gave her a smile. "'Course ya can. What is it?"

"I... I'm scared." She admitted in a small voice.

He tightened his hold on her. "Of what?"

"That I might not have enough time to love you the way I want to!" She leaned against him, her hand now gripping star shaped folds of his tunic. "I know what I said about cherishing whatever time we're given, but I don't want to have regrets about holding back- "


As her voice trailed away on a sigh, Tasuki set his jaw, thinking furiously. To his knowledge, only the supreme beings could change the rules, since they were the ones that set them in the first place. So, it stood to reason that Suzaku had been responsible for the priestess' return to Konan, and for deliberately dropping Miaka into his arms. No fluke occurrence or random stroke of luck could have brought them together like that. It would have taken the might and will of a god.

A god that wanted his priestess to find love.

The thought made Tasuki sit a bit taller in the saddle. As a celestial warrior, he'd sworn to protect the Priestess of Suzaku with his life. As her friend, he'd fought equally hard for her happiness. As a man, he loved her with all that he was, and all that he had, the way she deserved to be loved. The result of all those things was that she had been entrusted to him; a priceless gift, straight from the heavens.

It was fate. It was destiny. They were meant to be together. He was sure of it.

"Miaka!"

She looked up quickly, startled by the urgency in his tone.

"Suzaku ain't some sadistic bastard playin' with our lives just for kicks!" He declared firmly. "He's the deity of love, an' we're his chosen ones. If he was willin' to break th' rules for you by bringin' ya back here, then that means there's hope for us!"

Her lips trembled. "Oh Tasuki-"

"I won't let ya give up, Mi-chan!" He vowed. "No matter what's happened in the past, ya gotta believe that things will work out for the best!"

She had lowered her gaze as he was speaking; when he finished, she was silent and still. The bandit stared at her anxiously, bracing himself for an onslaught of tears, but dreading their appearance. The sight of her weeping had always crushed him, and he'd hate himself if he made her cry as much as Tamahome had.

When at last Miaka looked up, his heart was knocked sideways by the beautiful smile that had bloomed on her lips. She held his gaze as her hand sought his where it rested at her waist; when she found it, she threaded their fingers together.

"I believe that." She said softly. " I do. And I think...they already have."

To be continued...