Tasuki is a bandit, a thief and sometimes a bully, but he is a truly good man. He can be brash and tactless, but he is always sincere and he eventually appologizes for every one of his wrongs. For all he says he hates everyone (an improvement from just "I hate women", I suppose), he shows a great deal of care and concern for all his friends - even the female ones.
A great deal of Tasuki's trouble relating to people must come from his lonely upbringing. Though he had a mother and five sisters, none of them really had time for him. Tasuki found companionship with the Reikaku bandits, but even there, he never learned the true meaning of love between a man and woman. It's no wonder he says he hates women when his only experience with them before Miaka was prostitutes. Miaka changed all that for him and even though he doesn't love her romantically, she means a lot to him and he would do anything to protect her.
Tasuki's greatest fear, it seems, is of appearing weak. While he has a flamming (sorry, I had to) temper and will readily show anger and is quick to make a joke, he has a hard time expressing real emotion which is why the love he shows for his friends is so touching. Tasuki shows a deep devotion to the Suzaku team and takes their injury or insult (by anyone but him) as a personal affront.
