Insert the usual disclaimer... (click) disclaimer inserted. Thank you and please keep your arms and legs inside the fanfic at all times. Enjoy your reading.

Firelight
by Blue Jeans
Dedicated to: M.E. on her 16th Birthday! Happy birthday pal!

It took nearly all my self-control not to sigh as I watched him, so tall, strong and handsome... especially in the firelight. The light seemed to dance across his features, defining the smoothly chiseled parts of his face, highlighted and darkened his features like an artist's paintbrush. He was certainly beautiful, the strong features of his face became softly delicate with the light, the young man was in his element, and his flame colored hair matched with the blaze of the campfire he had made. Instead of being ruggedly handsome, like most rough people were, his face was smooth and youthful, with tawny amber eyes, strong cheekbones, and a prominent nose.

The more I looked at him, the more irresistible he became. These feelings were strange because I never had feelings like this for any man, only one very special young woman ever came this close to my heart, but she's dead now. Tasuki here, was still very much alive, even though something about him made it appear he had hidden something away.

"Chichiri?"

"DA!" I jumped at the sound of his voice. "Don't do that, no da!"

"Oi, calm down," the tawny eyes turned to stare at me in confusion, "What are ya thinkin' about right now?"

"Da?" Pretend to be clueless, don't be overly eager to tell him that you are thinking of him and how beautiful he is, no da!

"Aww... hell, never mind." Tasuki rolled his eyes at me, and turned to stare at the fire some more. There was a moment of extremely uncomfortable silence, and then, it was broken. "I miss 'em."

My heart sank, "Who, the bandits, no da? We can go back home soon if you would like to, no da."

"Nah... it ain't them... I miss the others." Tasuki took a deep breath, "Nuriko...Chiriko... Hotohori-sama... Obake-chan...Mitsukake... and... Miaka." He took a deep breath and a sudden shudder went through him. "I miss all of them so damn much! What I would give to see those ahos again!"

I quickly went over to him and lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. That was all I could do, I couldn't bring him into my arms and hold him close... what would I give to be able to do that, to comfort and protect this strong, yet fragile young man.

"But... even if I was able too... I couldn't..."

"Da? Why is that, no da?"

He shook his head violently, shrugging off my hand, "Do I have to spell it out, god damn it! You were there!" Tasuki rested his head on his arms so he could hide his face from me.

My eyes widdened as my mind rewound the scenes of our last meeting with our dearest and closest friends... and Tasuki shouting out his last cry of, "I CAN'T BETRAY A FRIEND!" I shuddered as I thought of how close I came to loosing him. Suddenly, I remembered why he nearly destroyed himself... what he came so close to doing because of Hikou's cursed water splashing him... yet even though he came close to submiting, he didn't and still managed to come through like a hero.

"Tasuki, no da..." I began as I took off my mask. "Why are you still so upset about that, no da? There isn't any need to be, you were still forgiven, Miaka wasn't hurt and you became a stronger person, no da."

I didn't hear an answer from him, so I went on talking. "I know how much you love Miaka, but you didn't hurt her, no da. It wasn't your fault that Hikou's water splashed you, putting you under that curse, in fact, that's the reason why it wasn't your fault, no da. Yet, even though it wasn't your fault, you still managed to break the curse and come through strongly and bravely, like the leader you were born to be, no da. I don't know why you should still torture yourself, since there's nothing wrong with you, no da."

Tasuki finally raised his head and his eyes met mine, "Honto ni?"

I had to smile, "Hai."

An odd expression passed onto his face and he took a deep breath, "Chichiri... I... I wasn't gonna tell ya this... but... but I can't... keep it in anymore..."

"What is it Tasuki-kun, no da?" My heart began beating faster and faster inside of my chest.

"Yer 'no da' is damn annoying!"

I had to blink, to keep the tears from flowing, "Oh, sorry no da. Demo, I can't help it, it's just a reflex, no da."

"But, that wasn't what I was gonna tell ya..." he took a deep breath and muttered under his breath, "chichiriiloveyou."

"Huh?" I must've heard him wrong, I could've sworn... that... that he said...

"I said," he said louder and then went back to his muttering, "chichiriiloveyou."

"You're going to have to speak louder than that, no da. I don't have super-sonic hearing, no da."

"I SAID I LOVE YOU DAMMIT!" Tasuki exploded at me, his earings swinging violently. "How many times do I have to say that?"

I blinked and stared at him.

"Aww... I knew your reaction would be like this... dammit..." he turned away from me and waved his hand as if to get rid of some of the tensioned atmosphere around him. "Just forget I said that... let's go ta bed..."

"I love you too Tasuki." I quickly went over to where he was sitting, turned him around, and pressed my lips against his. He struggled to free himself for a bit but I held my grip firm, I wasn't about to let him go... not now and not ever.

Tasuki began to kiss me back and wrapped his arms around my body. For awhile, there was nothing but our lips touching, our tongues dancing, and hot breath being sent back and forth. When we finally broke upart, I smiled at him; he grinned back with that wonderful crooked smile of his.

"Let's got to bed," I suggested as he nodded.

We did go to bed... but it was a long time before we actually got to sleep...

***OWARI***

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