Tasuki found the urge to flame Tamahome rising again and fought to keep it under control. As much as he liked his fellow Warrior sometimes the money hungry bastard just needed a good toasting. Now was one such example.

The redheaded teen leaned against the doorframe to Tamahome's room barely hiding a scowl behind a smirk. "Miaka's cryin'."

Tamahome nodded never looking up from the floor where he was counting his money answering distractedly. "Yeah, so?"

"So…whadya do this time lover-boy?" Tasuki replied crossing his arms.

Tamahome looked up at him briefly. "Why does it have to be my fault?"

"Because no one else seems ta know why and it's usually yer fault anyway."

"Tasuki…" Tamahome had the warning in his voice. The same one that Nuriko usually lacked before pummeling the bandit into the nearest wall. "What goes on between Miaka and I stays between us."

Tasuki snorted and pushed off the door jam to leave. "Yeah, 'til she runs inta someone else's room cryin’ her heart out."

"She did…?" Tamahome sounded shocked, which caused Tasuki to smirk.

"Yeah. She was hysterical too. Carryin' on about bein' unable ta 'be tagether'" Tasuki turned to leave. "If it wasn't you who she was talkin' 'bout who could it've been? But if ya dun't want ta talk 'bout it…"

Tasuki had made it three steps out of the room before Tamahome managed to reply. "What do you care anyway Flame-boy?"

Tasuki turned to face him that same smirk still plastered on his face. "Miaka's the priestess. I'm honor bound as one o' the Suzaku Seven to protect her. Whatever hurts her hurts me."

Tamahome grinned at him. "Aren't we the noble warrior. Listen…where is Miaka? I want to apologize to her."

"She's takin' a nap in her room. And you ain't goin' near her until I say so." Tasuki crossed his arms. "She went crazy when I even mentioned yer name. So I doubt she'll be willin' ta talk."

Tasuki noted the slight change in Tamahome's posture and facial expression that indicated his rising temper and knew he had a few more minutes in which to goad his friend before the boy beat him into a pulp. "Are you trying to tell me that I have to get your permission to see her?"

"Damn straight ogre-boy." Tasuki replied. "I dun't see what yer so defensive for. You're only gettin' whatcha deserve."

Tamahome usually had a pretty good temper about things and was raised to acts of violence only when Miaka was in danger or he was severely pissed with you. Which was why Tasuki was so surprised to find himself thrown into one of the columns supporting the roof of the porch. Tamahome, his symbol flashing, held his hand around the other warrior's throat pinning him there.

"Don't think even for a second you can keep me from Miaka. Even for a minute." The hostility in Tamahome's eyes was almost enough to curb Tasuki's own temper. Almost.

"I'll keep ya from her if you hurt her and I damn well know you have. Threaten me all ya like ya aren't seein' her." Tasuki growled at him belatedly realizing the stupidity of irritating Tamahome further while the other had one hand clamped around his throat.

Tamahome tightened his grip to almost a crushing capacity his eyes flashing with a strange maroon colored light. Tasuki gasped as his air was abruptly cut off and the man before him lifted him off his feet with a feral grin.

Tasuki grabbed Tamahome's arm with both hands trying to pry it loose but the other warrior just pushed harder, slamming Tasuki's head back into the pillar. Tamahome opened his mouth to speak but the voice that he used wasn’t his own. It was a deeper more baritone voice that just oozed power and evil. "Still going to keep me from Miaka, little warrior? What could you do to stop me huh?"

"Tama…home…" Tasuki sputtered weakly his vision dimming the longer he went without air.

"Hey Tasuki you feelin' alright?" Tamahome asked suddenly his voice changing back to normal and sounding concerned but his face never loosing the cruel hostility. "You look pale."

Tasuki furrowed his brow as his vision dimmed further he barely managed to choke out a strangled reply which was pretty incoherent.

"Tasuki? Are you all right? Can you here me?" Tamahome put a hand on his shoulder and Tasuki's head jerked up from where he was staring at the ground. He looked up at his friend as he unconsciously lurched away from him. Wait, he was being pushed against a pillar just a second ago wasn't he?

A quick stock of his surroundings revealed him to be sitting on the steps just outside his room staring out at the courtyard. Tamahome knelt next to him, his hand still lingering where Tasuki's shoulder had been. His eyes were dark with concern, but there was no sign of that strange maroon glow.

"Tasuki, you okay?" Tamahome frowned looking a bit hurt at his reaction. "You were just sitting there staring at nothing. You didn't even respond to Nuriko when he called to you. And you're looking awfully white…"

"I-I'm fine." Tasuki whispered, his throat still feeling hoarse, as he shook the image from his mind. "It...it was nothin’. I was jus’ lost in thought fer a moment there."

Tamahome didn't look convinced but let it drop. "Uh...huh. Must've been one helluva thought. First one eh?"

"Ha…" Tasuki snorted sarcastically. "Ain't we witty today."

Tamahome smiled faintly. "Well dinner's going to be served soon. Better hurry up or Miaka will have devoured everything."

Tasuki nodded and turned to stare at the far building. Tamahome walked back down the porch casting another concerned look over his shoulder but Tasuki didn't see it.

~¤ ~

Halfway across the continent, in a rundown shack, outside a quiet village, a shadowed figure sat staring into a pool of an onyx liquid, smirking. The small shack was lit with a soft maroon glow from a ball the figure toyed with in its’ hands. The pool reflected a certain flame-haired warrior staring at the ground looking confused.

"What was that?" Tasuki asked his voice sounded as if it was filtered through water. "It was so real…"

"You like that little warrior?" The shadowed figure whispered to the image. "A view of what's to come. Soon...you and your priestess will be mine. And there's nothing the Warriors of Suzaku can do to help you."