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Warnings: Sap. Lots and lots and lots of Sap. Oneshot. Little if any editing.

Disclaimer: The standard they're not mine but I'm making no money kind of thing. Ya know, something tells me there's no legal merit in any of these…but I suppose it's the thought that counts.

AN: This is a little scene that's been plaguing me. I *adore* get-together fics. Generally, though, they start after one or both parties has some idea what they are feeling. I wanted to explore the moment a person realizes they are completely in love. I have no plans for any follow-up with this. Hopefully it feels complete even though it is short.

Insight

by Xellas M.

Chichiri was never happier than when he was traveling. Simply being on the way to somewhere was always exciting. The farther he ventured, the more possibilities seemed to wait always just ahead of him, new people to meet, experiences to be savored. Anything could happen. When Tasuki came along, as he had this time, it usually did.

This particular day seemed to be made just for wandering. It was late morning, warm but not terribly so. Sunshine poured down from a perfectly cloudless sky, brightening the rich green and golden tones of the fields through which they walked almost painfully. The soft, muted jingling of his staff against the road was their only contribution to the peaceful sounds made by the birds and small animals as they went about their daily business. Well, almost the only contribution. Tasuki was not known for his appreciation of peaceful silence.

"Chichiri?" The fire seishi asked, as though prompted. His normally loud voice was quieter than usual, possibly swallowed up in the vastness of the sky above them.

A strange tingling passed through the older man's body at the sound of his name on the other's lips. That had been happening a lot lately. Chichiri wasn't sure of the cause, but for some reason the feeling reminded him of Tamahome and Miaka.

The monk smiled at his companion. He had taken off his mask earlier to enjoy the feel of the warm sun on his skin and was glad he had done so when the redhead returned his smile with one equally sincere, if unusually shy.

"Today's really perfect, ne, Chichiri?"

It was a simple statement of contentment, but the tremors within the older man intensified as though he had been confronted with something unbelievably profound. The monk recognized that there was a deeper truth in Tasuki's words. They resonated within the core of the mage's being, every word spoken of vital importance, beginning with the present and ending with his name. There seemed to be a hidden subtext in his friend's voice, filled with bittersweet happiness and longing.

Chichiri shook his head, bemused at the thought. His quick mind set it all down to wishful thinking and attempted to move on. However, the peace of their surroundings had given the monk a clarity of thought that was often lacking in his own emotional insight and his preoccupation refused to be cast aside so lightly. Wishful thinking? What, exactly, was he wishing for?

Even as he directly confronted the question within himself for the first time, he knew the answer. Unwilling or unable to believe, he looked to Tasuki for confirmation.

It was as if he was seeing his fellow seishi for the first time. Never before had he truly noticed the way the texture of the bandit's tanned skin contrasted so sharply with that of his full, soft-looking lips. Or how perfectly the sharp angle of his narrow jaw curved along the line of his neck. Or how, if you looked *really* closely, you could see the nearly invisible dusting of childhood freckles along the bridge of his nose.

Chichiri's heart exploded within his chest. He stopped walking, unable to do anything other than stare in admiration at the intricate combination of strength and sensitivity that was his best friend. He finally understood what Tasuki truly was to him.

The redhead stopped when Chichiri did. It was obvious that the bandit was less than comfortable under the full weight of the monk's gaze. He held his ground, however, folding his arms in front of himself protectively.

Eventually, true to his nature, the bandit broke the silence. "What? Do I have somethin' on my face?"

The mage had almost completely lost himself in Tasuki, but managed to pull himself together.

"Yes, no da." His words were soft, and spoken somewhat seriously. He took a couple steps forward, close enough to touch his friend. The younger man's breath hitched slightly, though he still did not move away. The monk could feel his cheeks heating as he lifted his hand and brushed it gently over the redhead's nose.

"Freckles." Chichiri finished softly, letting his arm drop back to his side.

Tasuki's cheeks flushed darkly and he muttered, vaguely damning the freckles in question each to its own private hell. He turned abruptly and continued walking.

The monk smiled as he followed his friend. The sky and the earth seemed even more beautiful than they had before, life more sweet than he could ever remember. His thoughts were measured by the cadence of his staff upon the road, a litany repeating over and over, coming from his heart. It was simple and could never be forgotten, but was bigger than the sky, too much to comprehend all at once:

He was in love.

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~Owari