Warnings: Yaoi, mild lime in this part.

Disclaimer: Well, I *tried* to get a Tasuki plushie on eBay, but apparently there are too many other fans out there who are even more dedicated (or else just richer), than I am. Which leaves me back where I started - owning nothing but my story ideas. Good thing I have a day job!

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Needs Must Be

by Xellas M.

Chapter 5 - Confirm

Morning comes and I discover that the only thing better than making love to Tasuki is waking up next to him, even if he did somehow manage to sprawl out and hog most of my narrow bed. I'm perfectly warm, content and peaceful.

Breathing deeply, I am surprised to detect the musky smell of sex still permeating the entire room. It reminds me of my forwardness last night and I feel my face heat up even as another part of me begins to stir. I am half tempted to nudge my sleeping partner awake. After all, things moved very quickly last night and it might be even better if we took it a little more slowly. I am just about to act on that thought when my stomach rumbles loudly and I realize that I haven't eaten since breakfast the day before.

The urgency of the situation is brought home when I hear trays being settled outside my door and my stomach rumbles yet again, even more loudly. I really don't want to get up, it might wake Tasuki, but after all I need to keep up my strength.

I manage to slide myself out from under my lover's arm without waking him and grab a pair of pajama bottoms from the floor. Sliding them on, I realize that I accidentally took his clothes instead, the legs are slightly long. No matter, I don't expect to be wearing them very long anyway. I concentrate for a minute, making sure there is no concerned individual waiting on the other side of the door to offer help I definitely don't need, before quickly grabbing the tray and bringing it in.

The kitchen staff must truly have been worried - there is enough food for at least five starving monks and their bandit partners. It might even be enough to feed Miaka.

Walking the tray back to the bed, I trip over the long legs of Tasuki's pajamas. As I'm stumbling out of control, the tray (right side up, thankfully) sails through the air in a graceful arc. I see a blur of motion from the corner of my eye as I land face down on the mattress. I blink, and he is sitting there wide awake with the tray safely nestled on his lap.

Put out, I turn SD and glare up at him. "Not nice, Tasuki-kun no da. I could have gotten hurt and you were more worried about your stomach than me no da."

He ruffles my bangs and laughs. "If I had let the tray crash, your bed would have been trashed and I'm not ready to leave it just yet," He blushes and looks down before adding "unless you want me ta go. You were actin' kinda strange last night and I don't want to assume anythin'."

I return to my regular form, my face as serious as I can manage. "Well no da, I really should do my morning meditations no da. However, you'd probably only follow me to watch again so I may as well just stay here na no da." I kiss him lightly on the lips.

The range of emotions that plays across his face is comical. He is temporarily speechless, so I use the time to my advantage. I grab a particularly beautiful piece of fruit and work on satisfying my hunger. I figure this way, if he kills me at least I'll die on a full stomach.*

I am starting on my third piece of fruit before he manages to speak. "You knew." he says dangerously.

"Of course I knew, Tasuki-kun no da. Has anyone told you that your chi is extremely sexy no da?"

"Flattery will get ya nowhere, monk. You're gonna pay." He bares his fangs at me. I shiver; I can hardly wait. "After breakfast." he adds, ruining the effect by helping himself to a very generous serving.

* * * * *

We don't leave my room until well past noon, during which time I learn a very important lesson - when a mountain bandit says you're going to pay, believe him.

The odd sensations that my body is still sending me are strangely comforting though, a physical reminder of his presence, of pleasure.

My lover is off to keep a promise made to Chiriko, which suits me perfectly as I have a score to settle with a certain purple-haired seishi. I'm not really angry - I don't think it is possible for me to be angry today, but if you let Nuriko have the upper hand even once you're a lost cause. However, I have a plan ready and she may even end up thanking me when it's all over.

I concentrate on her chi, eventually locating her in her room. Perfect. I march up to her door and bang loudly. When she opens it, I push my way in, my mask set in an expression of cold anger. Behind it, I'm giggling silently.

"You told him." I bang my staff for effect, metal rings jingling ominously.**

She is terrified. "He threatened to burn me! I didn't tell him much, I swear!"

"It's too late. However, since you only told him a little…"

She looks at me, hope shining in her lovely eyes.

"I will turn you into an attractive frog instead of an ugly toad." Her hopes are dashed and her expression is one of sheer panic. I quickly recite the incantation I prepared, not giving her time to react. A small cloud of smoke, a quiet *Pouf!*, and the most stunning frog I have ever seen is before me on the floor, croaking pitifully.

I kneel down to address her. "Don't worry, Frog-chan no da. I've based the spell on a story from Miaka's world that she told me one evening. You'll go back to normal as soon as you can find a handsome prince - or emperor - who will kiss you. You can stay safely in my kesa and we will ask Hotohori at dinner no da."

She has no choice, so she jumps docilely into my hand. As I'm settling her in comfortably, her sticky tongue lashes out and strikes the back of my hand defiantly. Ick.

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Dinner is still a couple of hours away, so I take the opportunity to meditate at Suzaku's shrine.

I feel the need to try to express my deep gratitude to the Lord of the Southern Quadrant. Suzaku revealed my own heart to me and forced me to follow it. The joy and passion I have found in Tasuki's arms as a result are gifts to be treasured and appreciated.

I clear my thoughts, simply allowing my feelings to flow freely. I am surprised when a voice lightly tickles the back of my mind, then whispers softly through the stillness of my thoughts like a small small campfire burning on a quiet night.

"It wasn't My will alone. Sometimes, when a wish is made with all the strength in a pure heart, a God can answer without a Miko's intervention."

This is puzzling. Hesitantly, I respond "But I didn't even know…"

Amusement fills the reply. "You weren't the one who made the wish. Take good care of Tasuki, he loves you deeply.

"It is as needs must be. Your destinies are forever bound together, although your shared fate will eventually separate you from your fellow seishi." ***

Then suddenly the voice is gone and I am fully awake, overwhelmed by the depth of Tasuki's love. I realize that I haven't actually told Tasuki my feelings yet, there really hasn't been a chance, but I promise myself and Suzaku that we will talk tonight.

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I am running late. I arrive at dinner, the last seishi to do so.

Well, almost the last. Nuriko's place is markedly empty.

Not surprisingly, it is Hotohori who first wonders out loud about Nuriko's absence. Just the cue I was hoping for.

"Da! I almost forgot no da! I have her here, no da." It was true, until Hotohori spoke I had been too busy smiling across the table at Tasuki to pay much attention to anything else. I remove the grumpy, but still beautiful, frog from my kesa. "She, um, met with an accident no da."

I look around the table, my mask the perfect picture of innocence, but I don't think anyone is buying it. Tamahome is biting his lip, trying not to smile and Mitsukake immediately hides his face in his drink.

Only Hotohori appears concerned, but that is what I am counting on. His voice is stern, almost angry. "Change her back!"

My mask frowns. "I cannot, no da. She needs your help, Hotohori-sama no da."

By this time, even Chiriko has started smirking. Mitsukake chokes on his wine.

"This is NOT funny!" The Emperor stands, forcing the rest of the seishi to rise too, out of politeness. "What do I need to do?"

"Da. Only the kiss of a handsome, er, Emperor can return her to her rightful form."

Miaka squeals. "How romantic! It's just like that story I was telling you - "

She is cut off when Tamahome subtly elbows her.

"An attractive man like me, kiss a frog?" Hotohori looks at Nuriko doubtfully. "She does make an attractive frog, at least. Very well. I will rescue her from this humiliation."

Solemnly he holds out his hand. Carefully I place Nuriko on his palm, grateful she doesn't do anything nasty to me on the way.

The second Hotohori's lips touch Nuriko's, she regains her beautiful body, still cradled in the Emperor's arms. However, he doesn't release her; the kiss lasts several minutes. By the time the pair break for air, Miaka has already grown tired of waiting and sits down to devour her own meal and Tamahome's as well.

Nuriko glares at me, but is unable to follow through on the unspoken threat because Hotohori still has her gently cradled in his arms. She looks back up at him, her anger forgotten.

For the moment anyway.

* * * * *

Night falls and Tasuki sneaks back into my room. Finally alone, but it feels like we've been apart for days instead of only a few hours.

I waste no time. I take him in my arms and hold him tightly. I make my confession in a surprisingly steady voice, although I can feel a tear threatening behind my eyelid. Why would I want to cry? Saying these words makes me truly happy.

"I love you, Tasuki."

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~Owari