Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Learning to Heal ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Tasuki could not believe what was happening. There seemed to be a thousand questions bouncing through his mind, `He loves me, he's in love with me! Since when? For how long? What can I say, what should I do?' Then, all of the questions were being merrily drowned out by his heart which seemed to be attempting to leap from his chest to join with it's new-found other half.

 

However, for the first time in his life, he actually wanted to think out what he was doing instead of just jumping in feet first as he usually preferred to do. Chichiri had made him think about a lot of things he hadn't ever considered before. He was afraid that if he acted without thinking about these new considerations, he'd just end up ruining a great thing.

 

`So I only want to have sex with someone I care about? If that were true then I could've just had sex with Koji, no problems. So it has to be someone I love? Am in love with? Ah, geez, too many damn questions; if I do anything now I'll probably just fuck this up, and I owe Chiri better than that, `specially since this is probably the one chance at bein' really happy I'm ever gonna get.'

 

“Chiri, I gotta think this out first. I want this, with you. It's just that I've always run headlong into everything, and I usually end up messin' things up that way, and I'd never forgive myself if I messed this up with you by doin' that. I'll just go for a walk or somethin', and I'll be back in a couple hours, I promise.”

 

The monk was surprised by his friend's seriousness, but only for a moment. That was why he knew this would work; it seemed to him that Tasuki had always treated him with more care and consideration than he had to anyone else, it seemed, even while joking with him like he did with everyone else. “All right Tasuki, but if you're not back soon, I'm coming after you, no da!”

 

“Sounds like fun!” the bandit laughed as he left the room.

 

Chichiri smiled and settled in to meditate, even though he felt way too giddy to actually accomplish anything.

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Tasuki headed out of the inn and started off down the street towards the lake nearby. The night was cool and refreshing, just what he needed to get some answers. He remembered the village as one Chichiri brought him to when they had walked the country together. He had told Chichiri on their previous visit that he liked the village and it's folks, and that he'd like to visit again someday.

 

Tasuki could not wrap his mind around the fact that Chichiri loved him, was in love with him and had been for some time. And sure, he loved Chichiri back, no question about that. But fuckin'? No, making love, he corrected himself, that was a different story all together. In his whole life, he'd never had any interest in that, with anyone. It just seemed like too much of a hassle for too little gain, ridiculous to consider for such an illustrious bandit as himself.

 

At one point, he had wanted Miaka like that, but after Hikou's enchantment wore off, the desire he felt had faded back into the love and devotion he had for her before. He had renewed his efforts to see Miaka and Taka happy together after that.

 

He sighed as he neared the lake and flopped himself down on the bank near a tree. `Well,' he thought, `that kiss sure did the trick anyway, more of that would damn sure be welcome.' He leaned against the tree and closed his eyes, thinking of how nothing ever felt so good as that kiss. It felt like he had been dying of thirst his whole life, and had been given a river of the purest water to drink. It had been incredible; it had made him want to shout his pleasure to the rafters.

 

His eyes flew open. `I wonder how loud I could make Chiri shout… he does have the most graceful, well muscled body I've ever seen… Well, guessin' how sappy the guy makes me get and at how tight these pants just got, I must be in love with him. Guess it's time to head back to the inn--'

 

“Shit!” He sensed the attack just before it happened, but it was still too late. He reached for his tessen and managed to block the first dart coming in from the side, but he could not dodge the second. It hit him full in the neck. He ripped it out as fast as he could, but the damage had been done. His vision began to blur and his muscles began to respond sluggishly.

 

“Well, well,” a somewhat familiar, mocking voice called out from the darkness. “What do we have here?”

 

Tasuki clutched his tessen in a rapidly weakening grip. “You attack from behind with poisoned darts? Show yourself, you fuckin' coward!” Before he could react, he felt two sets of hands holding him by the shoulders. He managed to grab one of the men by the shirt front and slam him to the ground, knocking him unconscious before his muscles shut completely down. Another set of hands seized him, holding him still while yet another hand tangled in his hair, roughly pulling his head up. `I guess I should be flattered that they need so many thugs…' Tasuki thought absently.

 

The figure that appeared before him was one of evil. The cruel smirk and dead eyes promised nothing but pain. The look on Tasuki's face was one of pure disbelief as his world slid into gray.

 

“Hi… kou…?”