Author’s notes and warnings:  I know I should probably finish ‘REDEMPTIOM’ first but if I don’t at least start this, I might not at all.  I was watching the ‘Casper’ movie with my son the other day and this just sort of popped into my head.  *sigh* It only goes to show how obsessed I am with the two bishounens, ne?  But don’t worry, REDEMPTION is coming along nicely.

As far as lemons are concern, it will be for the next chapter.  I’m not sure how to write one with a ghost but I sure as heck will try!  LOL  ~.~

Disclaimer: The FY boys do not belong to me.

By Moonraven

“Damn Chiri!  Quit fussin’ already, will ya?  It ain’t like I’m gonna die twice!”  Yelled the translucent figure floating along the narrow path the monk was traveling.

“Sumen ne, Tasuki-kun.” Chichiri sighed.  “I need more time, no da.  I can’t get use to the idea that you are dead, na no da.”

“It’s been almost a month, Chiri.  How long do ya fuckin’ need?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Chichiri was beginning to lose his temper.  “Until you decide to behave like a ghost, I guess.”  He stood with his hands on his hips glaring at the dead bandit.

“I’m fuckin’ transparent!”  Tasuki shouted with his arms opened wide.  “I’m fuckin’ floating!”  He demonstrated by hovering to the side of the path, right over the cliff, which had started this whole conversation to begin with.  “How much more of a ghost do ya want me ta be?”

“I DON”T KNOW!”  Chichiri shouted back.  “Some peace and quiet would help!  I have NEVER met a noisier ghost!”  Then seeing the hurt in Tasuki eyes, Chichiri slapped a hand over his mouth in horror.  “Tasuki…”

“Fine.”  Tasuki turned his back to his friend.  “I won’t say another word.”

If Chichiri hadn’t felt so bad, he would have made a smart-ass comment along the line of ‘when hell freezes over’.  But the monk was mortified.  Here was Tasuki, refusing to be reincarnated because it would mean that Chichiri would be the only seishi left, the monk would be all alone.  Chichiri had tried for days to get the bandit to move on but Tasuki refused adamantly.  How could Chichiri be so cruel as to yell at Tasuki for caring and for wanting to keep him company?

“Tasuki-kun, no da.”  Chichiri whispered.

Silence.

“Gomen nasai, Tasuki-kun, no da.”  Chichiri tried again a little louder.

Silence, arms crossing stubbornly.  A small smile touched Chichiri’s lips at the familiar gesture.

“Tasuki-chan.”  Chichiri pouted in his most pathetic voice.  “Please don’t be mad, no da.”

Silence, shoulders slumping slightly.  Chichiri face brightened; Tasuki was too generous and could never remain angry very long.

“If you won’t turn around to face me, I’m going to be forced to go out there, no da, and my levitation spell is not very good, na no da.”

Tasuki whirled around immediately.  “Don’t…” He began and stopped short; his heart had jumped up to his throat.   Chichiri had taken off his mask and stood on the path looking both gorgeous and contrite.  Times as these made the bandit happy that he had elected to stay with his friend.

“Gomen, ne, Tasuki-kun.  I didn’t mean it, no da.”  Chichiri’s eye was misty.  “I would miss you too much, na no da, if you were to stop talking.”

“Aw, fuck, Chiri!  I’m sorry too, okay?  I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”  As much as Tasuki love to see his friend without his mask, he hated to see the monk sad.  “If ya didn’t worry about my ass, ya wouldn’t be Chiri, ne?”  He smiled at Chichiri.  And I wouldn’t love you so damn much, Tasuki added to himself.

“Tasuki…”  Chichiri’s heart skipped a beat at the smile.

“Yeah?”

“Do you think you could move away from there now?”

Tasuki sweat dropped and rolled his eyes.  “Hai-hai.”  He moved onto the path, right behind his friend.  “Happy, now?”  He couldn’t deny that man anything.

“Arigatou, Tasuki-kun, no da.”  Chichiri said softly and started down the path again, smiling broadly.

**)O(**   **)O(**   **)O(**   **)O(**   **)O(**

They walked all day and by late afternoon were approaching the small village that Chichiri was to help set up a school.  Well, Chichiri walked, Tasuki was trying to walk, rather unsuccessfully.  He kept sinking into the ground or floating up into the air, cussing colorfully the whole time.  Overall, it was an interesting morning for the monk who had a hard time keeping a straight face. 

Chichiri came to a stop atop the ridge and looked down into the valley that housed the village.   He turned back to the bandit and found Tasuki’s head sitting on the road.  He laughed aloud.

“Tasuki-kun.  I’m surprised you haven’t disappeared underground completely, no da.”  He smiled fondly at his grumbling friend.  “Don’t try so hard, Tasuki.  You’re not supposed to walk, no da.  Aren’t you supposed to just…”  He gestured with his hand waving in circular motion in the air.  “You know…”

Tasuki sighed and floated up to hover next to his friend.  “I just missed walkin’ with ya, Chiri.”  His tone was sad and Chichiri’s heart clenched painfully in his chest.  He wished with all might that he could take the bandit in his arms and hold him.

“Tasuki…” Chichiri wanted to suggest reincarnation again but knew better.  Tasuki would not willingly go and he wasn’t sure he want the bandit to go.  He would miss Tasuki too much.  Chichiri hated himself for being selfish.  If Tasuki was reincarnated, he would start a new life and all the pain and memories of this one would disappear.  It was for the best, really.  Now if only his heart would listen to his head.

“Don’t even suggest that rebirth shit, Chiri.”  Tasuki’s voice cut into his thoughts – literally.  Since Tasuki really didn’t have a body, all their conversation and arguments would have appeared to passerby as if Chichiri was talking to himself.  A fact that irked the monk to no end.

“I wasn’t going to, Tasuki, no da.  I was just thinking it.”

“Well don’t think it!”

“Hai.”  Chichiri said meekly.  “I just thought you would be happier if you were to be with Nuriko again, Tasuki, no da.”  You will be happy but my heart will surely break, thought Chichiri.

“Don’t go there, Chiri.”  Tasuki warned him quietly.  His obsession with Nuriko was no secret to the monk, Tasuki had confessed his heart to Chichiri often enough.  But what the monk didn’t know was that the feelings Tasuki had for Nuriko was nothing compared to what he felt for the compassionate and selfless monk.  He would never leave Chichiri alone even if heaven itself beckoned him.

“Gomen, Tasuki.”  Chichiri apologized again.  “I didn’t mean to bring up sad memories, no da.”  Chichiri’s heart ached.  Even after all these years, Tasuki still hurt at the mentioned of the purple hair seishi.  He supposed he should be elated that Tasuki had chosen to be with him rather than the reincarnated Nuriko and the others, but he was not.  Tasuki stayed because he felt sorry for Chichiri, not because he loved him.  Chichiri sighed and turned toward the village.  “Let’s go, no da.” 

Tasuki followed him silently not liking the withdrawn and quiet mood the monk had adopted.  He wanted to say something to Chichiri but didn’t know what.  Things like this were not his strong point and he would probably screw it up by saying the wrong thing.  So he followed his friend silently.

As they approached the first house along the path, a few people started to run towards them calling greetings to Chichiri.  A boy about twelve nearly threw himself at the smiling monk.  Chichiri ruffled the youth’s black disheveled hair and laughed down at the smiling face.

“Rei-chan, how you’ve grown, na no da.”  He started as another figure launched itself on him.  This one was a girl of about the same age with long brown hair.

“Do you remember me too, Chichiri-sama?”  Her musical voice asked joyously.

“Of course I do, Nessa-chan.  How could I not remember such a beautiful girl, no da.”  He smiled at her affectionately. 

“C’mon, Chichiri-sama, mama would want to see you and uncle Seiji would too.”  They each took one of his hands and half dragged him towards their house.  Chichiri turned to Tasuki and laughed, silently asking his friend to join them.  Tasuki followed his laughing friend mutely.  He had rarely seen Chichiri so carefree.  He was glad that the usually shy monk was able to relax in this village and he felt bad for feeling a tiny pang of jealousy.  He had seen that unguarded happiness in Chichiri before and had pride himself in being the one to bring it to his friend.  Now it seemed that others could do that just as well. 

His thoughts, brooding really, came to a stop when they arrived at a large inn.  The name ‘The Wanderer’ posted prominently over the front door and on a hanging sign by the side of the inn.  Tasuki had a feeling that it referred to Chichiri though he didn’t know how he knew.  A small woman in her late twenties came out of the inn and embraced Chichiri warmly.  Tasuki felt another pang in his chest, though he was not clear how he was able to feel these things.  Didn’t you need a heart to feel it breaking?

“Welcome, Chichiri-san.”  The woman said warmly.  She looked remarkably like the girl Nessa that Tasuki guessed that this is the mother.  Both had long brown hair and brown eyes, slight build and blessed with musical voice.  Tasuki cursed under his breath.  Fucking perfect.

Chichiri looked sharply in his direction and quirked a questioning brow.  Apparently, he had heard that last bit.  Tasuki smiled and rubbed at the back of his neck sheepishly.  “Heh, heh, gomen, Chiri.”

Chichiri risked a smile at his friend.  He really couldn’t do much more with all these people around him.  He turned back to the woman and gave her a smile. 

“Sakura-san.  It has been a while, no da.” 

“Yes, it has.  I was beginning to think that you had forgotten all about us.”  She chided him gently.  “But we do understand your importance, Chichiri-san.  We are just happy to know that you have not forgotten us.”  She took his arm and led him into the inn.

Tasuki fumed silently at the woman and followed them.  How dare she grab Chichiri like that!  And what was Chichiri thinking, letting her do that!  By the time they’ve reached the private part of the inn, Tasuki had worked himself into a frenzy.  Chichiri glanced nervously at his friend wondering what had gotten into the bandit.

“Tasuki,no da.  What’s the matter, na no da.”  He asked his friend silently.

“That woman is all over you, Chiri.”  The bandit scowled at the oblivious woman.

Chichiri’s eye widen at the comment.  He nearly burst out laughing but held it back just in time. 

“Chichiri-san.”  Sakura gestured to a chair at the table.  Chichiri took his seat without further comments to Tasuki and said his thanks to his hostess.  She brought tea and sat opposite him.  “Will you be staying long, Chichiri-san?”

“I did promise to help you and Seiji with setting up the school, na no da.  I guess I’ll stay until that is done, no da.”  He accepted his tea graciously, completely ignoring the scowling bandit.

“Seiji will be back shortly.”  She said looking at him from under her lashes.  “He was very upset to have missed you the last time.”

Chichiri said nothing and the bandit wondered who Seiji was.  He couldn’t have been her husband since the kids called him ‘uncle’, so…

“Mama, mama!  Uncle Seiji is back!”  Nessa yelled running into the room with Rei right behind her.  They came to a screeching halt right next to their mother.  Everyone, including Tasuki, turned expectantly towards the door as a tall dark haired man walked in.  He stood silently in the doorway, hungry eyes drinking in the image of the monk. 

Tasuki paled, well as much as any ghost can, as he realized that the threat was not the woman but this man.  Seiji was at least a head taller than Tasuki, slightly more muscular and a darn lot older.  He seemed to be even older than Chichiri, though not by much.  The man’s dark brown eyes continued to devour the silent monk as he walked leisurely towards the table.

“Okay, Chiri.  I like HIM even less that the woman.  No.  The woman, I think I can like, but the man I don’t think so!”  Tasuki floated over to the man and tried to bar his way.  That worked as well as holding back molten lava with an ice cube.  “HEY!”  Tasuki shivered as Seiji walked right through him.  “That’s disgusting!”

Seiji came to a stop right next to Chichiri and the monk stood, turning to face the taller man.  “It’s good to see you again, Seiji-san.”  Chichiri said quietly.

“Seiji-SAN?”  The taller man raised his eyebrows.  “When did we become so formal, Houjun?”  His voice was deep and low. 

Tasuki frowned.  Houjun?  This guy knew Chichiri as Houjun?  What the…?  And where the hell is his ‘no da’?

“Chichiri?”  Tasuki called his friend mentally.  “Who the hell is this guy?”

“I’m not sure how you will receive me after such a long time, Seiji.”  Chichiri looked up tentatively and smiled.  “You have not changed a bit.  The years have been good to you.”

“Chiri…” The bandit was not pleased at being ignored; he floated right between his friend and the other man.  Chichiri gave him a startled looked and motion with his head for Tasuki to move.  “I don’t fucking like the way he looks at you, Chiri!”  The bandit did not move.

Chichiri felt awkward talking through Tasuki and tried to steer Seiji to the other side of the table.  Tasuki, of course, came after them.  The monk sighed in exasperation and told his friend silently to give him a few minutes.  All of this, naturally, was done under the confused stare of Seiji whom by this point was more than wondering why they were circling the table.  Chichiri noted with dread that Sakura and the kids had all slipped away unnoticed and he was indeed alone with Seiji…er and Tasuki.

“Houjun.”  Seiji took firm hold of the monk’s arms.  “What are you doing?”

“Let GO of him, you jerk!”  Tasuki pounded Seiji on the head, resulting in the expected – nothing.

Chichiri stared in horror as Tasuki continued to assault the impervious man.  “DA-A-A-A…Tasuki!  Stop, no da!”  Chichiri wiggled out of Seiji’s grasps and thought quickly.  He turned to smile at the taller man, ignoring the abusive bandit, and tried to look as tired as he could.

“I’m just real tired, Seiji.  We’ve been walking all day and I think I would be better company if I rested a bit.”

“We?”  Seiji raised his brows again and looked around the room.  “They said you were alone, Houjun.”

Chichiri groaned inwardly.  “You see why I needed a little rest?”  The monk smiled weakly and rolled his eye mentally. 

“That was SO lame, Chiri!  Haven’t I taught you anything?”  The bandit groaned loudly in Chichiri’s head.

“Shut up, Tasuki!  I wouldn’t be in this mess if it hadn’t been for you, no da!”  He scowled back at Tasuki.

“Houjun?”  Seiji’s voice cut into their argument.  The man was looking scared.  “I’ll have Rei take you to your room and we’ll talk tonight, alright?  Um…please rest.”

“Arigatou, Seiji.  Until tonight, then.”  Chichiri smiled at Seiji before the man left the room.  Rei bounded in seconds later and half dragged Chichiri to his room laughing and talking the whole way.

Once the door was closed and Chichiri was alone with Tasuki, he turned to his dead friend angrily. 

“Tasuki, I can’t carry on a normal conversation when you’re yelling in my head, na no da.”  He told his friend sternly.  “What were you thinking?”

“I told you, Chiri.  I don’t like the way he looked at you.  He looked like he wanted to eat you... or worse.”

Chichiri blushed and looked away.  Tasuki’s heart sank.

“You knew!”  Tasuki accused his friend.  “You knew all along what he was after!”  The bandit was beyond hurt.  Chichiri was apparently willing to accept another man’s advances.  “Is this why we came here, Chiri? For this asshole?”

Chichiri was surprised at the intensity of Tasuki’s emotions.  The bandit was radiating waves and waves of anger, hurt and betrayal.

“No Tasuki, no.”  Chichiri tried to assure his friend though he wasn’t sure why.  If he were no longer alone, surely Tasuki would be happy to move on, to be reincarnated with the others.

“I told you, no da.  I came to help Sakura-san start a school.  Nothing more, na no da.”  Was that really true?  Chichiri wondered.  Hadn’t he thought about Seiji’s proposition before especially when he knew there was no chance with Tasuki? 

“This guy wants you.”  Tasuki stated stubbornly. 

Chichiri sighed.  He might as well tell Tasuki the whole thing.  The bandit would surely find out anyway.

“I guess he still does, no da.”  Chichiri said quietly.  “I met Seiji a very long time ago, Tasuki, not too long after the…incident with Hikou and Kouran.  He was very kind and helped me a lot during a very…hard time in my life.”  Chichiri swallowed hard thinking about the pain and guilt he harbored and how the tall man was so understanding and always ready to give him love.  “I wasn’t ready to…commit to anyone at that time and my study with Taiitsukun was not completed.  I knew that I had to finish my task as Suzaku Shishiseishi and that my destiny would not allow me to settle down just yet.  Besides, I wasn’t convinced that anyone could love me.”  He looked down at his hands.  “But apparently he could.  He had asked me to live here with him when my tasks were over.  I told him that I would think about it.”

“Have you thought about it, Chiri?”  Tasuki asked.

“Yes, I have, but I…haven’t made up my mind yet.”  Chichiri mumbled.

“Do you love him, Chiri?”  Tasuki asked softly.

Chichiri looked up sharply.  Was that pain in Tasuki’s voice?

“What does love have to do with it, Tasuki?  He’s kind, gentle and giving.  He had never thought twice about my past, no da and accepted me exactly the way I am, na no da.”  Chichiri said with some forced cheerfulness.

So would I, Chiri, if only I could.  So would I, thought Tasuki desolately.

“Do you love him?”  Tasuki repeated.

Chichiri swallowed a lump in his throat.  I love you, he thought to himself.  “I’m sure I could learn to love him.”  Chichiri said softly.  “Though I don’t know why…everyone I love died.”  Chichiri’s whispered forlornly.  “Everyone…”

“Chiri…”  Tasuki’s heart went out to the only man he had ever loved.

“Besides, Tasuki-kun.”  Chichiri tried to smile.  “If I stay here with…um…them, I wouldn’t be alone, no da.  And you can be reincarnated, na no da.  You’ll be able to be with the other in Miaka’s world, na no da.”  You’ll be reunited with Nuriko and be happy again, thought the monk.

“You’re doing this so you can get rid of me?”  Tasuki asked quietly, his voice dangerously low.

“NO!”  Chichiri cried out in alarm.  “Never.”  Tears came unbidden to his eye and spilled hotly down his cheek.  “How can you think that?”

Tasuki’s chest tightened painfully at the sight of Chichiri’s tearful face.  “You kept telling me to go away.”  His own tears falling heedlessly down his face.  Tasuki wasn’t sure how that was even possible.  Did ghosts have tear ducts?

“For you, Tasuki…”  Chichiri said thickly.  “I thought you would want to be with Nuriko, you missed him so much.  I thought it was the best thing for YOU.  I was only thinking of you, Tasuki.  I never wanted to be without you, it would kill me if I were never to see you again.”  Chichiri’s eye widen in horror as he realized what he had just said.  He brought a hand to his lips and stared in dismay at the surprised bandit.

“What are you saying, Chiri?”  He asked, floating closer to Chichiri.  He stopped mere inches from the monk and gazed intently into his eye.  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

Chichiri swallowed and shook his head uncertainly.  “I…er…what did YOU think I was saying?”

Tasuki floated so close that they nearly merged.  Chichiri shivered visibly, he could feel the heat from the other man though he knew that was impossible.  Ghosts have no body heat and they have no scent.  Yet, Chichiri could have sworn that he was bathed in Tasuki’s uniquely clean vibrant scent.  He closed his eyes and could almost feel the bandit’s arms around him.  With an anguish cry, he turned around, not willing to face the ghost of the man holding his very heart. 

Tasuki appeared in front of him looking very solemn.  “I don’t want to be with the others.  I don’t want to be with Nuriko.  Well, I do, because they are my friends.  But I don’t want to if it means that I have to leave you.”  He raised one specter hand to caress the monk’s cheek.  “I only want to be with you, Chichiri.  Only you.”

Chichiri let out a choked cry and leaned into the ghostly hand knowing very well that he wouldn’t feel anything.  The gentle gesture on the bandit’s side was breaking his heart and he looked desolately at Tasuki.

“I was wrong, Tasuki.”  He said between sobs.  “When I said I could learn to love Seiji, I was wrong.  I could never love anyone else.  My heart and soul belonged to only one person, Tasuki, forever.”

Tasuki gazed hopefully into the tear-filled mahogany eye.  “Who do you love, Chichiri?”  Ghostly fingers trailed Chichiri’s lips and cheekbone.

“You, Tasuki.  It had always been you and it will always be you.”  Sobs shook his body as he surrendered to the futility of their situation.  Chichiri berated himself for not having the courage to tell Tasuki before the bandit died.  What are they to do now?  Chichiri sank to his knees, his hands covering his face.  “Gomen, ne, Tasuki.  I should have told you.”  He looked up at the bandit.  “Now it’s too late for us.”  He buried his face in his hands again.

Tasuki knelt down next to the distraught monk and wishing desperately that he could comfort Chichiri.  “Forever, Chiri.”  He said softly.

Chichiri peered up from his hand at the gentle expression on Tasuki’s face. 

“You said you would always love me.  We have forever to love each other, Chiri, cuz I’ll never stop loving you.”

“Tasuki…”  Chichiri whispered.  “Hai, forever, no da.”

To be continued…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AHHHH!  I actually had a lump in my chest the whole time I wrote the revelation scene.  I had wanted to do a little humorous tale; unfortunately, I had taken the wrong turn somewhere and ended up with a sappy, angsty tale.  **sigh**

I know it could be so much funnier but a comedian, I am not.  Please let me know what you think so far.

Next chapter will reveal how Tasuki died (why do I keep killing him?) and have our kawaii heroes deal with their feelings.  Oh and REDEMPTION’s sixth chapter is coming right up.