Tasuki awoke to the feeling of warm sunlight on his face. He began to stretch lazily, and then froze. <Sunlight? My room faces west!> Disoriented, he opened his eyes to find himself lying on the bed, fully clothed, in an unfamiliar room.

"Nuriko!" he sat bolt upright as he recalled the events of the previous night. Glancing around, he discovered he was alone in the room. There was a rumpled spot beside him on the bed, and a dent in the pillow, but the space was cold; Nuriko had been gone for awhile. "He must have slipped out early this morning," Tasuki muttered, rubbing his eyes. Never at his best before noon, he was also still trying to proscess what had happened the night before.

"Shit! What am I supposed to do now? What the hell was I thinking?" He griped at himself as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He made his way to the door and cautiously peered out. The last thing he needed now was for one of the others to see him coming out of Nuriko’s room at this time of day, looking all rumpled. Luckily Nuriko was still in his old room from his days as a lady of the court, so the others wouldn’t have heard their fight and… subsequent antics. He grinned wryly to himself. What the other court ladies would be thinking was another matter.

He made his way to his room, where he quickly changed his clothes, giving his hair and face a lick and a promise. He grabbed his tessen, which he had not had with him the night before, and headed to breakfast.

As he entered the room where the Seishi took their meals, the first thing to catch his eye was Nuriko, seated serenely at the other end of the room. _Please don’t say anything,_ Tasuki begged him with his eyes. _Don’t worry,_ the reassuring smile seemed to say. Somewhat relieved, he edged into the room.

"Tasuki! Just in time, you almost missed breakfast no da!" commented Chichiri as he spotted the bandit. "I knocked on your door this morning na no da, but you didn’t even answer!"

Tasuki prayed the blush on his face wasn’t as bad as it felt. "Ah, you know me, Chichiri, not a morning person!"

Mitsukake looked at him in concern. "All you all right, Tasuki? You look flushed." Tasuki sighed. So much for hoping no one noticed.

"Nah, I’m fine Mitsukake, I just ran here so I wouldn’t miss breakfast!" As the others laughed, Tasuki sighed inwardly in relief. As the meal progressed, he relaxed, realizing that Nuriko had no more intention of revealing what had happened than he did. The purple-haired Seishi was still fawning over Hotohori to a disgusting degree. Eventually, Tasuki and Nuriko began sparring back and forth in their usual fashion. Everything seemed back to normal.

When the meal ended, Hotohori sat forward in a serious fashion. "Chichiri and I have been discussing it, and we’ve agreed that it’s time to go after Tamahome." Miaka, who had been depressed all morning, perked up visibly at this statement.

"I was able to contact him last night, no da!" said Chichiri. "He’ll be waiting for us in the garden of the palace na no da!"

"Who will be going?" Nuriko wanted to know.

"Chichiri must go, obviously, as he will be doing the transportations, and needs to be there personally to get through Nakago’s shielding." Hotohori replied. "Tasuki, we’d like you to go along as well, for protection."

Tasuki shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever," he replied. "I’m kinda anxious to meet this Tamahome everyone’s always talking about anyway."

Hotohori nodded. "Then, let’s get to it."
 
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nuriko paced back and forth nervously. They were late… very late. While it was entirely possible that something simple and harmless had detained them, he knew in his heart that there was something very wrong. Though Miaka could spend endless amounts of time gazing lovingly at Tamahome, forgetting about the rest of the world, and Tasuki was hardly the punctual sort, Chichiri would at the very least have sent a message to them. But no such message had been received.

So, that meant that for some reason, they couldn’t send a message. Maybe Nakago’s barrier was more powerful than they had suspected. Or maybe Chichiri was hurt, and the others were trapped. Or maybe they were all hurt. Maybe they were all dead.

Nuriko suppressed a sob, and glanced around hastily to make sure no one else had noticed his distress. He told himself firmly that he was being ridiculous. He was a Suzaku Seishi… of course he was worried about the Suzaku no Miko. But the mangled form he could not dismiss from his imagination was not of Miaka, but Tasuki.

He berated himself furiously. What right did he have to be worried about Tasuki? What reason, for that matter? A heated argument that led to a few kisses. A night spent wrapped in his arms. What was that compared to his love for Hotohori? Certainly, he had accepted that he would never have Hotohori. That didn’t mean he’d stopped loving him! Did it?

Besides, Tasuki had said, just because he hated women, didn’t mean he liked men. He’d likely stayed the night out of pity, and the next morning, he’d begged him with his eyes not to say anything to the others. Understandably, he didn’t want to be labeled as the kind of pervert Nuriko was. Last night had been a one time only experience. And Nuriko couldn’t care less. Or so he tried to tell himself.

Finally, they were able to bring them back, with the help of Tama-chan. A small cry escaped Nuriko’s lips as he saw the condition Tasuki was in, but no one noticed, as they were all making similar cries of horror.

While the others rushed to help Miaka, who was also badly hurt, Nuriko knelt at Tasuki’s side, taking his weight from the exhausted Chichiri. The blue haired monk smiled thankfully at her, then sat back on the ground, completely drained.

Mitsukake was torn between healing the Miko and the injured Seishi. Tasuki solved his dilemma by waving him away. "Help Miaka," he croaked. "I can wait a day."

Nuriko had to force down tears. Tasuki was badly hurt, on the verge of unconsciousness. And yet, he let Mitsukake heal the less injured Miaka first. He smiled down at Tasuki. "You may try to tell everyone that you don’t care, but deep down inside, Gen-chan, you have a heart of pure gold." Tasuki, who had lost consciousness, didn’t reply.

Nuriko carried him gently to his room, and laid him on the bed. Having arranged the injured bandit to his satisfaction, he ran to fetch bandages and fresh water. He took the time to check on Miaka, and heard the story of how Tamahome had turned on his love and his fellow Seishi. Shocked and horrified, a shaken Nuriko made his way back to Tasuki’s side.

As he sat gently on the side of the bed and dipped a cloth into the cool water, Tasuki opened his eyes again. "I thought Tamahome was supposed to be on our side?" he queried, his voice hoarse from pain.

Nuriko shook his head to hide his tears. "He is," he insisted fiercely. "Nakago must have him under some kind of spell. He would NEVER hurt Miaka like that." Nuriko applied the damp cloth to Tasuki’s face. Despite his gentle motions, the bandit still hissed in pain.

"Gomen nasai!" exclaimed Nuriko, snatching his hand back. Tasuki smiled weakly up at him. "It’s okay, Nuriko. I know you didn’t mean to hurt."

Nuriko blushed slightly, sensing a double meaning behind the bandit’s quiet words. He reapplied the cloth to the wounds, cleaning gently. Tasuki’s grimaces of pain struck him through the heart, but he did his best to ignore them, and the tears which threatened to spill once more. <I’ve done more crying in the last day than I have in years,> he reflected wryly, <and most of it over this red-haired scoundrel. What on earth is wrong with me?>

Once Nuriko managed to rid Tasuki of the worst of the blood and dirt encrusting his wounds, the bandit began to relax under his soothing touch. After tying the last of the bandages, Nuriko stood to leave. "You need to rest," he said gently.

Tasuki clutched his arm. "Arigato, Nuriko," he whispered, smiling up at the other Seishi. Nuriko gave in to an impulse and leaned over, brushing a quick kiss on the other man’s lips. Seeing shock in Tasuki’s eyes, he quickly straightened and left the room, not giving the bandit a chance to reply. Had he looked back, he would have seen a bemused smile playing about Tasuki’s lips.
 
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nuriko peeked into the darkened room. He saw Tasuki lying motionless on the bed, and, deciding the other Seishi was still asleep, began to back out of the room. "Matte," came a quiet whisper from the bed. "Nuriko?"

"Hai," Nuriko replied, and stepped back into the room, letting the door close quietly behind him. "Mitsukake wanted to make sure your wounds were still clean, but he was too tired to stand upright, so I volunteered."

"Aw, you just wanted a chance to ogle me, didn’t you?" Tasuki teased. Nuriko blushed hotly, and was glad for the darkness of the room. That comment had hit just a little bit too close to the mark! He sat down on the bed next to Tasuki and began to undo his bandages, trying not to stare TOO obviously at the bandit’s naked body.

As Nuriko peeled off the bandages, washed the wounds, and applied fresh bandages, Tasuki felt a gentle warmth spreading through his body. It was unlike, and yet related to, the fire of two nights previous. <Is this what being… cared for… feels like?> he wondered. As he let the warmth flow over him, he decided that he liked it. Liked it a great deal.

"Mitsukake also sends his apologies for not being able to heal you today like he promised." Nuriko spoke softly, but the sound of his voice still broke the gentle reverie Tasuki had fallen into.

Tasuki grunted in reply. "Tamahome needed it more. Much as I hate the guy, we need him to complete the ceremony so I can get the fuck out of here and go back where I belong."

Nuriko looked at him in surprise. "Aren’t you happy here?"

Tasuki shrugged uncomfortably. "I just don’t feel like I belong here, with all of you and your fancy manners. I’m just a bandit leader, what do I know about palace life? Besides, as capable as Kouji is, I want to get back and take control myself."

Nuriko nodded slowly. "I understand, I guess." He sighed wistfully. "At least you have something to go back to after the ceremony."

Now it was Tasuki’s turn to be surprised. "Nani? What do you mean?"

Nuriko stared off into the distance. "I can hardly stay here. Now that my secret is out, I’m not exactly welcome as a "lady of the court". My only place here is as a Seishi. Once that is done…" he shrugged.

Tasuki regarded him silently for a moment, then on impulse offered, "You could come back to Mt. Leikaku with me. Join the bandits."

Nuriko stared at him in surprise. "Nani? Do you mean that?"

Tasuki blushed fiercely, but stood by his offer. "Well, you’d make great bait in an ambush."

Nuriko laughed, touched by the gesture. "I’ll think about it," he replied. "In the meantime, you need to rest. Mitsukake will be in first thing in the morning to heal you." Before he could stand to leave, Tasuki grabbed his arm and hauled him down until their faces met. The gentle kiss quickly turned into a passionate one. Mouths opened to allow entrance to questing tongues, and wandering hands searched for sensitive areas. They continued this way for several minutes, their breathing becoming heavy and strained, until suddenly Tasuki gave a sharp cry and pulled away.

"Gomen!" exclaimed Nuriko, realizing he had hit one of the many injured areas on Tasuki’s body. Tasuki kept hold of the other Seishi, preventing him from bolting until the wave of pain had passed, and he was able to open his eyes and speak clearly once more.

"Yare, yare," Tasuki commented quietly. "I don’t know what’s going on between us, Nuriko. I didn’t plan on any of this, and I know you didn’t either. But…. I don’t think I want to fight it. Too hard, anyway."

Nuriko gasped, then carefully wrapped Tasuki in a gentle hug. "Arigato, Gen-chan. I… don’t want to fight it either." He placed a gentle kiss on the other man’s lips, which quickly threatened to turn into another tongue war.

They were so involved in each other’s lips, they didn’t hear the approaching footsteps until it was too late. "Tasuki no…. daaaa?" Chichiri trailed off and stood stunned in the doorway, unable to believe what he was seeing. Violet and hazel eyes regarded him in horror. Finally, the blue-haired monk cleared his throat and backed off discreetly. "S-sumimasen! Gomen na no da!" He closed the door quietly behind him, and after a moment, the two in the room heard his footsteps moving away from the door.

Nuriko and Tasuki remained frozen in place for several moments, unable to meet each other's eyes. Finally, Nuriko began to stutter an apology. "Go - gome…"

Tasuki hushed him with a quick kiss. "Nuriko… daijobu."

Nuriko regarded him shyly. "Chichiri won’t tell the others," he offered.

Tasuki nodded in agreement. "I don’t think we should, either."

"Hai," Nuriko replied. He stood gently. "But I should go now, Gen-chan. I don’t want anyone else to walk in on us now. Do you?"

Tasuki grimaced. Chichiri was bad enough, at least he was discreet. "Yeah, I guess you’re right."

Nuriko planted a soft kiss on the bandit’s forehead, then straightened. "Oyasumi nasai, Gen-chan."

"Oyasumi nasai, Nuriko." Tasuki replied as the bishonen Seishi left the room. Although he fought to stay awake and consider everything that had happened in the past few days, he quickly lost the battle to his own body’s exhaustion.
 
 
 
Review
Next
Previous
FY Yaoi Fics
Fushigi Yuugi Yaoi
Home