Tasuki retreated to his room after that incident with Tamahome. He was still having a hard time getting his breathing back to normal and wasn’t sure if he could handle dinner with the others. If Tamahome told any of them about what had happened then they’d be questioning him all through dinner.

“Not somethin’ I wanna deal with…” He muttered tiredly as he flipped onto his bed and threw one hand over his face. “I dun’t wanna deal with whatever that was again either…It was just too real for my likin’.”

He flipped onto his side and curled himself into a slight ball. The lingering feelings from the dream, if it even was a dream, had only just begun to relinquish dominance over him and left him exhausted. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

His dreams however weren’t pleasant. He tossed and turned violently, muttering ever so often as he struggled with demons only he could see. By the time Tamahome found him he was thoroughly tangled in his sheets and he was moaning fitfully as if he had a high fever, a faint maroon glow surrounding him.

~¤~

Tamahome opened the door to Tasuki’s room quietly and peeked in. It was nearing 9 o’clock and the bandit had missed both dinner and the meeting held to discuss the Shinzaho afterwards. The fighter frowned hearing Tasuki’s pitiful moaning sounds, and stepped into the room taking note of the soft glow that lit the room.

“Tasuki?” He whispered as he slowly approached the bed and realized that the glow was coming from the figure on it. “Tasuki, wake up!”

The redhead rolled over muttering under his breath. His face was drawn into a grimace of pain and he struggled fitfully with his blankets as if they were restraining him.

“Please…leave me alone…” He whispered desparately. “Don’ do this….you’re m’friends…”

Tamahome frowned as he perched himself on the edge of the bed and reached out a hand, placing it gently on the sleeping man’s shoulder. Tasuki flinched and drew himself further into a ball trembling from the touch. Tamahome bit his lip and firmly grasped his shoulder pushing him flat on his back.

“Tasuki! Wake up!” He cried shaking him gently. “Wake up it’s just a dream!”

Tasuki reacted violently and struggled against his grip trying to free himself. Then his struggles abruptly ceased as the glow that had been surrounding him vanished and bleary golden eyes peeped past their lids to stare at the one holding him down. He licked his lips and whispered breathlessly. “Tamahome…?”

“Yeah.” He replied relinquishing his hold on the others shoulders allowing him to sit up. “I came to check on you…good thing I did or you might’ve choked yourself in those blankets.”

Tasuki glanced down realizing how badly he was tangled and grinned sheepishly. “I guess I must’ve been dreamin’”

“Try having a nightmare.” Tamahome answered. “You were whimpering and everything.”

“Hmmm…” Tasuki looked distinctly uncomfortable at having Tamahome so close, so the dark haired youth stood. “Well…errr….thanks...”

“No problem.” Tamahome ran a hand through his hair. “You wanna talk about it?”

Tasuki visibly cringed and shook his head his voice sounding drained and flat. “I don’ remember it…now if you’ll leave? I gotta get changed and I’m really tired.”

Tamahome tried to hide his hurt as he nodded and turned away from him. “Alright…see ya in the morning then.”

Tasuki muttered a reply distractedly and Tamahome left the room frowning. He was absolutely positive what he had just seen was connected with what happened earlier. Something was wrong, that strange glow that Tasuki had been exuding wasn’t the red glow of Suzaku but more of a darker red an eviler red.

A hand clamped down on his shoulder breaking him out of his revivre and causing him to jump. He spun to find Miaka looking up at him and smiling. Tamahome felt his heart flutter at the sight of her.

“Whatcha doing Tamahome?” She asked cheerily hooking her arm in his. “Isn’t this Tasuki’s room?”

“Yeah…I was just checking up on him. He missed dinner and I wanted to see if he was alright.” Tamahome replied leading his girl down the hall. “He’s sleeping now.”

Miaka nodded cheerily. “So is he sick?”

“No, he’s fine just tired.” Tamahome reassured her.

“Good. We leave in a couple of weeks and I wouldn’t want him traveling if he was sick.” She replied with a smile that looked forced.

Tamahome furrowed his brows and watched her for a few seconds. “Is everything alright?”

Miaka jumped and looked guilty before she quickly forced her smile back and place and answered in a strained, too high voice. “Nothing’s wrong really! I’m fine. Oh look, your room! Looks like this is where we part. Ha, ha.”

Tamahome raised a brow as he stopped out side his door. He crossed his arms and stared at her. “Somehow I don’t believe that.”

“It’s nothing! Really…” Miaka bounced from foot to foot as she scratched behind her head. “Well anyway I gotta go!”

Tamahome grabbed her arm before she could dash off. “Miaka…there’s something I wanted to talk to you about…”

Miaka turned abruptly about to make a reply as Tamahome pulled her into his room and shut the door. He faced her slowly a blush creeping up his face. Now that he had her where he wanted her how was he going to tell her? He’d never been good at these types of things.

Feeling Miaka’s eyes on him he raised his to meet hers. “W-would you like some tea?”

Miaka’s eyes lit up as she nodded. Thankful for the distraction Tamahome moved to where he’d set down a tea set before going to check on Tasuki. It gave him time to plan what he was going to say. But how can you tell someone that you want to marry them?

After a few minutes of cheerful small talk Tamahome finally stood and turned towards his money jar. “Listen Miaka…”

~¤~

Tasuki grumbled angrily as he pried himself out of the sheets that held him prisoner. What the hell was he thinking falling asleep like that? He sat up and shoved what covers wouldn’t release him gruffly to the floor. He listened to Tamahome and Miaka’s voices as they disappeared down the hall, waiting until he couldn’t hear them any more to make any attempt at standing.

“An’ I missed dinner too…shit…” He muttered as his stomach made it’s presence known. “Alright alright…I’ma goin’ fer food…seesh…”

He pushed himself to a standing position and nearly fell back on the bed as a sharp pain stabbed through his stomach. Wincing he lowered himself back into a sitting position wrapping a hand around the afflicted area. His eyes widened in shock as he felt a strange wetness dampening his arms.

“What the hell-?” He brought his hand away from his stomach shocked to see blood. His mind flashed back to the dream he’d been having.

“This is what you get for coming between Miaka and I!” Tamahome growled viciously stabbing the redhead with the dagger he held. Nuriko watched smugly from the corner refusing to help even as Tasuki reached out for him.

“B-but it was just a dream…Tamahome had said it was just a dream!” Tasuki cried frantically as he clutched his bleeding stomach. “It wasn’t real!”

He pulled off his jacket as easily as he could and lifted his shirt to inspect the damage. The wound was a jagged one, about an inch wide and at least seven inches long. The bandit hissed as he stumbled over to the dresser that held a minimal amount of clothes. Most given to him by Hotohori’s servants. Pulling out a clean shirt he proceeded to rip it into strips so he could bandage the wound. He thought briefly of going to see Mitsukake about it but then thought better of it as Nuriko’s words floated into his conscious.

“What the hell’s the matter with me?!” He growled as he hasteily bandaged himself. “Scared of a damn dream?!”

If it was nothing more than a dream then why was he standing in his room bandaging himself in the middle of the night?! He sighed and threw his shirt back on once he was done. After some deliberation he pulled on his coat as well so that no one would see the bloodstained shirt underneath.

Stepping outside he pulled the door shut and turned in time to have a small body fly into his arms. The collision left him seeing stars as whoever hit him threw their elbow into his stomach. He managed to keep them both up right and pulled back slightly to see who it was, although he had an idea.

“Miaka? Wha’s the matter?” He asked into her hair as she sobbed into his jacket grabbing the lapels. She just shook her head and sobbed harder. He gently put his arms around her in a comforting hug and let her cry.

“Th-thank you Tasuki…” She sniffled after awhile and withdrew from his embrace.

“No problem Miaka.” He smiled at her as the pain dulled into a faint ache. “Now where’re you runnin’ at this time a night?”

“Oh nowhere…just out for the air.” Miaka tried lamely to be cheerful even if three seconds ago she’d been sobbing her heart out on Tasuki’s chest.

“Well…I’m headin’ for the kitchen if ya wanna come…” Tasuki let the invitation hang as he turned leading the Priestess away from his room and down the sheltered walkway.

“Sure!” She piped with a smile. The mention of food always got her Tasuki smirked. “Now that ya mention it, I am a bit hungry..”

“Whoa, maybe I should wake th’ cook…you being a bit hungry is like Nakago being a bit ruthless…” He teased.

Miaka frowned and made an indignant noise while slapping Tasuki’s shoulder while the other laughed. They made their way as quietly as the two could get, which wasn’t very quiet at all, to the kitchen and prepared themselves a snack.

Tasuki stared in open shock as Miaka made herself what she called a ‘Miaka Specialwich’ which consisted of her throwing anything that looked edible between to slices of bread.

“Why is it I suddenly feel like Shaggy?” She asked eyeing the one foot tall creation. At Tasuki’s weird look she laughed and waved her hand. “It’s an American TV show…”

“Riiight….d’ya think ya could make two o’ them?” Tasuki licked his lips watching as she bit into giant sandwich. Well it was more like shove the whole thing into her mouth and swallow. It was a wonder she hadn’t choked yet.

“Ry rffld muf anfor…” She said around the food. Tasuki, having been around Miaka long enough to understand her foodspeak nodded gratefully.

Miaka finished eating and turned back to the counter to make two more sandwiches. While she worked Tasuki leaned against the counter next to her with his arms crossed.

“So ya gonna tell me what you were cryin’ for?” He asked watching her. Miaka stiffened and bit her lip. “Lemme guess…it has ta do wit’ Tamahome?”

Miaka sniffled and nodded silently working away at the sandwich. “He wants to marry me…”

Tasuki furrowed his brows. “An’ that makes ya cry?”

“I-I had to tell him I didn’t love him.” She blurted and whirled shoving the sandwich into his hands.

Tasuki’s eyes widened as he took the sandwich. “Wh-why? I thought you two were…”

“W-we are…but I’m the priestess and he’s a Celestial Warrior…we c-can’t.” She started sobbing again and Tasuki put down the sandwich to pull her into a tight hug.

He soothed her until she managed to stop crying again. Tamahome was always making her cry. First that time in Kutou, then when he came to kill her when he was under Nakago‘s influence. Now this. Did he ever do anything but make her cry? “Shh…it’s okay…it’s okay…If you two love each other as much as everyone ‘round here seems to believe you’ll find away ta be tagether…”

Miaka pulled back sniffling to stare at her tall warrior. “You think so?”

Tasuki smiled down at her affectionately. “I know so. You’ll be tagether an’ when ya have kids ya gotta name one after me.”

“Alright…” She replied wiping at the tears. “First child will be named after you!”

“First male child! I don’t want no woman named after me now.” He nodded seriously and she giggled. He liked making her laugh, it felt good. He pulled away from her and turned back to his sandwich. Only to find it gone.

“HEY! Where th’ hell did it go?!” He whirled around searching the area until his eyes landed on Miaka her cheeks bulging suspiciously. “Miaka! You ate m’food!”

Miaka glanced at him guiltily. “Mffr muffle mrrf!”

He gave her an annoyed stare and turned away crossing his arms and pouting. “I don’t care if ya thought it was good! I wanted to eat it!”

She swallowed and muttered apologetically. “M’sorry…Crying make’s me hungry…”

“So you ate my damn sandwich?!” Tasuki whirled to face her yelling. She giggled again and he sighed. “Alright I wasn’ that hungry anyway…C’mon I’ll walk ya to yer room.”

She hooked her arm in his and smiled up at him. “Alright. Promise not to try anything funny?”

“Ya have m’honor as a bandit.” He proclaimed as they headed out the door oblivious to the two shadows watching them from the other entrance.

“Promise…” Miaka growled warningly.

“Alright alright! I promise…seesh isn’t the word of a bandit worth anythin’ around here?!” Tasuki grumbled and closed the door behind them. He had almost completely forgotten about the dream and his subsequent injury. Talking to Miaka usually made one forget the bad things. She was always cheerful, or at least trying to be.

He smiled as he looked down at her glad to be one of the Suzaku Warriors. In two weeks they would be setting out for Hokkan so this would be the last of their peaceful days for awhile. He didn’t want to waste it worrying about his dreams after all that’s all the were right?