Tasuki tightened the girth strap of his saddle, checking to be certain the horse had not inhaled while he was doing so. Satisfied, he lifted the first of his saddlebags and began strapping it to the saddle. Chichiri stood quietly watching him from a few steps away. Neither Seishi had said a word to each other once they had been returned to Konan from the Miko world. Words, somehow, were not necessary.

Tasuki had immediately left Hotohori’s death chamber upon returning, eager to be away to the solitude of his mountain. Freed at last of his Seishi duties, he had already ordered Kouji and the others to begin breaking camp. He would ride ahead and prepare the mountain hideaway for their return.

Though his movements were methodical and efficient, his mind was in a whirl, barely registering outside events. The shock of seeing Nuriko again, brought back to life for a few brief minutes in the body of a Nyan-nyan, had caused all the pain and sorrow of his death to resurface within Tasuki. No longer able to distract himself with his Seishi duties, he felt a panicky need to be away from the palace and all the painful memories it held, before he broke down completely.

Not for the first time, he contemplated ending his pain by ending his life. To his surprise, the usual compulsion preventing him from doing so was absent. <Suzaku has been called,> he realized, eyes wide. <I’m no longer bound to protect the Miko. I’m free to do what I want.> But still, there was something inside him that would not allow him to end it that way. <Nuri-chan would never forgive me.>

As the emotions within him threatened to break free, Tasuki leaned his head against the horse’s flank, fighting for control of himself.

"Tasuki-kun," Chichiri ventured hesitantly, "Daijobu no da?"

Tasuki shook his head, regaining his composure. He returned to his work on the saddle. "Yeah, Chichiri, don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine once I’m outta this place."

"Oi, Gen-chan, leaving so soon? Surely you’re not that eager to be rid of the rest of us?"

Tasuki froze where he stood, saddlebag lifted halfway to the horse. His eyes widened, and his hands shook. <It can’t be,> he thought desperately. <I’ve finally lost it…>

Chichiri’s cry of surprise and relief finally freed him from his frozen shock. He dropped the saddlebag, and slowly turned to face the palace entrance, unable to believe his ears.

"You weren’t planning to leave without me, were you Gen-chan? Or have you forgotten your offer to make me one of the Mt. Leikaku bandits?"

Directly before him, dressed in the clothes he had last worn in life, stood Nuriko. His shortened hair blew into his face in the soft breeze, and violet eyes twinkled at the orange-haired bandit from beneath thick purple lashes. His hands were planted on his hips, and a small smile played about the delicate lips.

A strange burning sensation in his chest finally reminded Tasuki to breathe. He gasped for air, then stuttered, "N-N-Nuriko? N-nani?" Beyond the bishounen’s lithe form, he could see others exiting the archway: Hotohori, Chiriko, Mitsukake. Beside him, he could feel Chichiri riveted to the spot in similar shock.

Nuriko laughed merrily at his distress. "Miaka wished everything back to the way it was before," he explained gently. "Apparently, that included all of us. We all woke up in our respective rooms."

Chichiri let out a cry of joy, and rushed to embrace the resurrected Seishi. A general group hug ensued, including all but Tasuki and Nuriko, who continued to stand facing each other.

"What about Tamahome-kun no da?" queried Chichiri.

"Suzaku-sama took pity on him and Miaka, and allowed his soul to be reborn into a body in the Miko world, so they could be together," Hotohori explained.

Nuriko mock glared at Tasuki. "Speaking of being together, have you forgotten your promise, Gen-chan?"

Tasuki shook his head slowly, then suddenly reached out to embrace his lover fiercely, face buried in Nuriko’s shoulder. "Iie," he whispered. "I hadn’t forgotten."

Nuriko’s arms went around him reassuringly. "I’ll never leave you again, Gen-chan." He promised softly, his head bent and his lips near Tasuki’s ear. "Never again."

Amid the cheers and whistles of their fellow Seishi, the two lovers embraced passionately, sealing their promise to each other forever.
 
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