Burned

Burned

Written by: KittyLynne

Legal disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Fushigi Yuugi or its characters; they belong to the immensely talented Yuu Watase. I do claim the rights to the original elements of plot and characterization in this tale, as well as the narrative and dialogue. Any reproduction of this story in any form without my written consent will be regarded as theft and/or plagiarism, and will be dealt with accordingly.

Author's notes: Rated M for language, adult conversation and situations. Spoilers for series warning. Mild sap warning, and another reminder that this story is set a few years after the first OAV where Tenkou was initially sealed away by the four gods. The second OAV hasn't occurred.

I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of my wonderful beta reader. Spak, you're truly a treasure to me-your help has been invaluable, and your warm, patient encouragement has kept me going on this when I was ready to throw in the proverbial towel. Thank you so much.

Chapter Three: Stoking the Flame

It was with an unusually strong sense of excitement that Tasuki entered the large stable located behind the inn. He'd never enjoyed traveling on horseback or dealing with horses in general, but today was a notable exception. The thought of having so much uninterrupted contact with Miaka and having the curves of her body pressed against him for hours, had him ready and eager to saddle up.

Wrinkling his nose against the earthy scent of fresh droppings, he walked up to the stall that held Kado, the powerful stallion that had been presented as a gift to him from the Empress Dowager. Though he greatly appreciated the gesture, he couldn't help smirking at the choice Houki had made. Never thought I'd own a white horse. Ain't a good choice for a bandit, that's for sure!

The steed was obviously well trained and stood patiently as Tasuki saddled him and then tied on sacks holding various provisions. After he was satisfied everything was secure, the bandit seishi dipped into one of the bags and pulled out a carrot.

"Hey boy! I got somethin' for ya." He crooned, extending his hand. "A little reward for good behavior."

Kado eyed the treat for a moment, and then stretched out his neck to take a tentative sniff.

In the next stall, Chichiri paused in saddling his own mount to watch the stallion lip up the treat. "That was well done, Tasuki! I think you've made a friend, no da."

"Sure hope so." The bandit replied. "It'd end up bein' a damn long trek if he decides he doesn't like who he's travelin' with!"

"Then you had better bring a lot of extra bribes if you want to get through the desert in one piece this time, no da!"

Tasuki flashed a sarcastic grin at his snickering friend. He pointed to the bulging sacks hanging over the stallion's flanks. "Thanks for th' reminder, wiseass, but I already got it covered. There's plenty for us both!"

Both men laughed as the horse chose that opportune moment to give his new owner a less-than-gentle nudge for another treat.

After complying with the demand, Tasuki reached out to stroke a hand down his mount's broad, velvety muzzle. "Heya big guy...we're goin' on an adventure with a lady! I'm gonna need your help to keep her safe on th' ride- are ya up for doin' that?"

The stallion nickered agreeably as he lowered his head in acceptance of his master's touch.

The bandit warrior was pleased. "Good boy, Kado. We're gonna get along fine."

Chichiri absently rubbed the side of his jaw where his mask met his neck, pondering on how to broach his next subject. "That reminds me, Tasuki...we only have the two horses, no da. Since Miaka will be with us, maybe we should think about what points she should switch-"

"Won't have to. She's with me the whole way." Tasuki stated. His accompanying glare made it clear it wasn't a point for discussion.

The monk nodded. "In that case...would there be...anything else you need to tell me regarding the two of you?"

The bandit swallowed an expletive. Chichiri knew. He'd just been read like a book that began and ended with Miaka. "Maybe." He hedged, fidgeting under the elder seishi's blandly smiling but relentless gaze. "Okay, yeah, there is. But I don't wanna discuss it right now."

"Why wait, no da? Wasn't it you who said it's a good thing to get things out in the open?"

The bandit seishi scowled. "Don't be an ass! When I said that, she wasn't all alone an' waitin' for us!"

Chichiri turned back to his horse to hide a grin. He'd put a barrier around the inn to keep Miaka safe, but he wasn't about to deprive his friend of the chance to look chivalrous. "Point well taken. She should be ready, so you'd better go and get her, no da."

Tasuki looped Kado's reins around his hand. "I will. Thanks."


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Miaka could feel her heart thudding with anticipation as she made her way to the lower level of the inn. The few minutes she'd been apart from Tasuki seemed like hours, and she couldn't wait to see him again.

Thankfully, the staff was still busy in the kitchen or serving breakfast to the crowds in the Inn's restaurant, so no one appeared to delay her. It didn't take long to locate the rear exit Chichiri had described. The thick, wooden door swung outwards; she stepped through it onto a small veranda. After taking an appreciative breath of clear, unpolluted air, she walked to the balustrade, and looked out over a spacious expanse of grass to the thatch-roofed, stone building that served as a stable. At present the wooden double doors were closed, and her warriors were nowhere in sight. Glad that she had not kept them waiting, she strolled to the steps, set down her backpack, and then leaned against the railing to survey her surroundings.

The sky was cloudless and as intensely blue as it was possible for the heavens to be. The trees and manicured bushes that bordered the property were in full foliage, and the sweet scent of herbs and flowers growing in a nearby garden filled the air. It was clearly going to be another lovely day in Konan. Nevertheless, she was thankful for the unseasonably cool breeze that somewhat tempered the heat of the sun. Even with the lightweight fabrics used, she wasn't accustomed to being covered from shoulders to feet in the summertime. Shorts and a t-shirt were much more her style.

Still, she'd been absolutely delighted by the beautiful outfit Chichiri had procured for her, and surprised that he'd found something so strongly reminiscent of the robes she'd worn as a priestess. The only differences were that the underskirt was made of brocade instead of sheer tulle, and that there was an exquisitely embroidered dudao to wear beneath the red over robe, instead of a bejeweled bird's claw necklace. She still blushed a little to think that the monk had given consideration to buying undergarments for her, but she was also grateful for his thoughtfulness. The more substantial brocade would provide protection from saddle sores, and the halter-style breast cloth would provide much needed support during what was sure to be a bumpy ride.

After dressing with great care, she'd been determined to match the rest of her appearance to the elegance of her attire. She'd brushed her unruly hair until it shone, and then gathered and plaited it into a single thick braid that she draped over one shoulder. After that, she had hooked jade teardrop dangles into her ears, spritzed herself with a subtle fragrance, and applied lipstick as her only cosmetic; her glowing eyes needed no artificial enhancement, and the heightened color in her cheeks made blush unnecessary.

A final glance in her hand mirror had shown that she was looking her best. Loving someone and being thoroughly loved in return certainly was a very effective beauty treatment, she thought with a sigh. Though she'd never been one to be overly concerned with her looks, she couldn't help hoping that Tasuki would notice the vast improvement in her appearance.

Sudden movement in front of her caught her eye; the door to the stable was swinging open. Shading her eyes with a hand, the priestess watched as Chichiri emerged, holding onto the bridle of an elegant, chestnut-colored steed. He spotted her in an instant, waved, and turned off to one side as Tasuki appeared behind him, leading a majestic white stallion. Chichiri spoke to the bandit, who turned to look at her, lifting a hand. Miaka returned the gesture with enthusiasm, then felt her pulse quicken as Tasuki turned his mount and headed in her direction with a purposeful stride.

He's coming for me. She thought happily. The knowledge thrilled her, made her heart catch fire.

Until this moment, she hadn't realized just how frightened she'd been that her capacity to love had completely disappeared with Tamahome. Her powerful reaction to Tasuki had now proved that it hadn't vanished at all; she'd simply allowed that kind of feeling to freeze over for a time. Much as the ice serpents of Hikitsu had done to her in the Cavern of Genbu, the loss of someone she'd loved so deeply had held her in frigid, paralyzing coils of misery. In retrospect, it had been almost prophetic that Tasuki had saved her way back then.

"For ice, ya need fire," he had said at the time. "An' for fire, I'm your man."

Those words carried a more profound meaning than she could have ever imagined. Tasuki was her man. His fire renewed her, protected and sustained her, restored love and passion to her life. The flame he'd ignited was eternal; when at last they had to part, the memory of it would continue to blaze inside of her, keeping her hopes alive and a frozen existence at bay.

Though the thought was bittersweet, Miaka smiled.

With Tasuki, getting burned was a risk she was willing to take.

She was a vision in red, Tasuki thought, as he reached the steps where Miaka stood. He brought Kado to a halt with a muttered command, all the while continuing to stare at the woman standing before him.

The sun shone down upon her like a benevolent caress from the gods, turning her auburn hair into a golden red nimbus. Her eyes sparkled, her delicate face was flushed with excitement, and her smile of welcome sent warmth surging through him.

His gaze drifted lower to the long, graceful neck and soft skin visible above the square cut neckline of her tunic, lingered at the suggestion of shadow between her breasts, then dropped down the length of her silk garments. The glossy material slipped gently over her curves, concealing and revealing all at once.

Seeing her dressed this way brought back a host of memories, the foremost of them being the day she'd first tried to summon Suzaku. He'd always thought she was rather cute, but in her priestess garb she'd been beautiful. It was the first glimpse he'd gotten of the woman she was to be...and he'd been transfixed. Since then, she'd definitely realized that potential and then some. In his eyes, she'd never looked more beautiful or desirable than now.

As the silence lengthened, Miaka smoothed her skirt, and then began to fiddle with the gold sash wrapped around her slim waist. "Do you like it? Will I fit in? Did I tie the obi right? I'd almost forgotten how-"

"It's all fine!" He blurted, causing her to glance up in surprise. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Ya look even prettier."

The words were inadequate, but she looked as satisfied as if he'd recited a romantic soliloquy. She ran her hands down the sides of her tunic, and then lightly touched the edge of its neckline. "Thank you. I hoped that you'd like me in traditional dress."

The comment and the gesture fired his blood. Suddenly, he was no longer tongue-tied. "Hell yeah, I like! Come here an' I'll show ya how much!"

For a heart thumping moment, it seemed as if she would do just that. But after a furtive glance towards the stables, decorum won out.

"I...I don't think I had better." She murmured. "Chichiri's watching."

"Then I'm comin' to you." He countered. Not giving her time to object, he draped Kado's lead over a railing at bottom of the steps, giving the horse a pat of approval and murmured word of praise as it stood patiently and perfectly motionless.

Miaka was standing two steps above him, which put her face just above his eye level. It was only a short reach for her hand, and she didn't try to resist him as he captured it in both of his and brought it to his mouth. Slowly, he bent his head and pressed a lingering kiss to the back of it, paying homage to her in the manner he'd done the night before.

Now, as then, her breathing hitched and quickened with feminine awareness. Hearing the sound made Tasuki smile internally; playing the part of a respectable suitor wasn't his forte, but he figured he could get used to it in a big hurry if Miaka always reacted to him in this way.

He straightened and looked directly into her eyes. Might as well do the thing right and ask her properly.

"Pretty lady, will ya do me th' great honor of sharin' my horse?"

Cheeks ablaze, she simply smiled and nodded.

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A single day could make a remarkable difference, Miaka reflected, a few minutes and a mile or so later.

Twenty four hours ago she had been depressed and alone, her only physical contact with men coming from fighting with them for a seat on a train or a bus. Now here she was in an ancient land, riding sidesaddle on a magnificent white horse, dressed in fine silk, and ensconced within the arms of the handsome, chivalrous warrior that she loved with all her heart. It was a romantic fantasy come true, a scene taken straight out of an epic movie or one of her favorite fairy tales.

But there's no guaranteed 'happily ever after' in this book. She thought moodily. It'd be nice to be the first priestess who gets that kind of ending.

Unwilling to continue along that path of thinking lest it spoil a perfect day, Miaka turned her attention back to her surroundings.

They were in the outer ring of the business district, which housed a handful of permanent stalls. By the looks of it, it served as an initial gathering place for those who'd come to try their luck at selling in the city. Although Chichiri and Tasuki had avoided traversing the main thoroughfare of the capital, they were still riding in the midst of a sizeable, bustling crowd.

As they rode along, she also couldn't help noticing that their Imperial- caliber mounts were drawing many curious, interested glances from those making their way into the heart of the commerce district. It wasn't a surprise that a great many recognized two of the riders as Suzaku warriors, and soon began to offer warm hails of praise and blessing, as well as bows of the deepest respect.

Chichiri reined in his mount close to the white horse.

"I was afraid of this, no da." He said in a low voice. "That flaming hair of yours is a dead giveaway, Tasuki."

The wing seishi snorted. "An' th' mask and that weird rooster tail of yours ain't?"

Miaka hastened to interrupt, knowing all too well how quickly the two warriors' bickering could get out of hand. "Please! Don't be concerned on my account!" She urged, glancing from one to the other. "It makes me so happy to see you being honored in this way! For all that you've done for Konan, you deserve the highest respect, and much more!"

Chichiri looked surprised, and then a bit flustered. "Thank you, Miaka. You're kind to say that, no da."

Tasuki gave her a cocky grin. "When ya put it like that, I guess we can't complain!"

"I'm glad to hear it." Their priestess replied warmly. Satisfied that harmony had been restored between the two guardians, she looked forward once more, falling silent as her thoughts returned to her previous times in the book.

It was true that many people had seen her back then, but there was really no reason to be concerned or nervous about it, she told herself firmly. The odds that anyone would connect her, a brooding, mature woman of twenty five, with the cheerful, baby-faced fifteen-year-old who'd served as their priestess were small at best. Not only that, the legend stated that the Priestess had to remain in her world when her duties were finished, so there was no reason for them to think Suzaku no miko would return to their midst.

However, that reasoning brought another question to mind- just why had she been able to return to Konan? Had Taiits-kun changed her mind about the rules of separation? Or perhaps it was her steely resolve to find Tamahome had gotten her here? It wasn't boasting to think that; she knew she had a strong will. If she hadn't, she couldn't have survived using the power of a god. Her eyes widened. Suzaku-seikun...was it possible the beast god had heard her heart's unknowing cry for help and had shown her compassion?

A bouquet of wildflowers landed squarely in her lap, interrupting her muse in a startling but very nice way. Miaka looked up quickly, wondering who had thrown it.

"A gift for a beautiful lady!" A handsome young merchant called out, as he passed by in his wagon.

She blushed under the warmth of his appreciative gaze, and acknowledged the offering with a shy smile and a nod of the head. Her admirer responded with a quick grin and an elaborate half bow before turning his attention back to his driving.

Still smiling, Miaka turned to display the bouquet to her companions. "Aren't they pretty? What a nice man!" She declared, happily burying her nose in sweet floral fragrance.

Chichiri glanced sideways at Tasuki, whose expression had darkened. "A very brave man." He observed.

"A man with a death wish!" The bandit retorted, turning in the saddle to glare daggers at the vendor's retreating figure.

"Forget him, no da!" The monk ordered, suddenly sounding tense. "Take a look at what's happening ahead of us!"

Tasuki quickly faced forward, and scowled at what met his eyes. Several young men, some on conveyances and some on foot, were starting to gradually close ranks on them from all sides. "What th' hell is all this?"

"It was Miaka's acceptance of the flowers, no da." Chichiri replied in a low tone. "A lady of high status has shown she favors one of their own, and it's given them hope."

Miaka laid the bouquet in her lap, looking upset. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that thanking him would cause this sort of trouble."

The mage seishi shook his head. "There's no need for an apology, no da. Unconditional love and acceptance are integral parts of your power as Suzaku no miko." He gave her a warm smile. "In addition to that, your chi is much stronger now, so it's bound to attract others to you."

"Oh!" She hadn't realized. Taiits-kun had said she'd possessed her own special powers, but she'd never been certain what they were.

She glanced at Tasuki, wondering what he thought of the matter. The mute inquiry went unnoticed, however, for he was wholly preoccupied with the handful of brash young vendors that had begun to surround them, calling out for the 'beautiful lady' to dismount so they could 'show her their wares'. Though they were seated high above the crowd and still moving, the haranguing was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

When several young men started to run alongside the stallion, it became apparent that Tasuki had had enough. Transferring the reins to one hand, he cinched a possessive arm about her waist and turned a menacing, hard-eyed glare upon the group. They heeded the warning and scattered. The bandit chuckled scornfully as he watched them go, and then turned to his brother seishi.

"Chiri! Let's haul ass before I end up havin' to fry these poor fools!"

The monk gave him a curt nod of approval. "Let's go, no da!"

They first urged the horses to a fast trot as a warning, unwilling to take a chance on trampling anyone. When the crowd around them fell back to a safe distance, they upped the trot to a canter, and then broke into a gallop as they finally cleared the outer rim of the throng.

A bit unnerved by the precariousness of her position, Miaka leaned into the hollow between Tasuki's shoulder and chest, as her hand reflexively rose to grab hold of one of the leather straps crossing his chest. She relaxed as she managed to steady herself, only to tense once again in dismay as she realized she'd forgotten about the flowers resting on her lap. As her other arm was trapped against her seishi's hard torso, she was powerless to prevent the mass of blossoms and greenery from slipping from its perch and falling to the ground.

Tasuki glanced down just in time to see the bouquet disappearing under Kado's hooves. For a moment what looked like intense satisfaction flickered in his expression, but it was gone so quickly, she couldn't be sure.

"Sorry, Mi-chan, but we can't stop or we'll be surrounded by that gaggle." He said, jerking his head towards a large caravan of merchants approaching from the opposite direction.

"That's all right! It's my own stupid fault for dropping them!" She replied with forced cheer.I've never gotten any as a gift before. I wish I could have kept one for my diary. "At least I got to enjoy them for a little while. I'd forgotten how much I love flowers."

"I'll get ya some more!" Tasuki promised at once. "The prettiest ones you've ever seen!"

She stared up at him, amazed by the offer. Even over a matter as petty and inconsequential as this, Tasuki cared about her feelings. Knowing that he did was a far better gift than the flowers, and one she didn't think she deserved.

"Thank you, Tasuki." She said, giving him what she knew was a shamelessly adoring look. "I'll love them much more if they're from you."

He didn't reply, but the soft-eyed glance he gave her in return told her all she needed to know.


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They rode onward, through flat, low lying farmland, which eventually transformed into rolling pastures bisected by streams and wandering side roads. After almost two hours, they came to a wayside pavilion, a perfect place for a break. The bamboo roofed, open walled structure provided welcome respite from the sun, and the public well next to it provided sustenance for the thirsty travelers and their sweaty mounts.

As she stretched out her cramped muscles, Miaka delighted in watching as the two horses stretched out their heads, sniffed each other, touched noses, and then began to nuzzle one another's necks. She'd never really paid much attention to the magnificent creatures in her previous time in the book; they had just been four legged transports to her. This time around she found them fascinating to watch. If the extremely friendly way they were grooming each other was anything to go by, it appeared that this budding acquaintance could blossom into a full-blown romance!

Aware that her companions would probably think her overly fanciful, Miaka kept the notion to herself; however, it didn't stop her from thinking it romantic and very sweet that both animals were contentedly taking turns in munching the carrots that Tasuki had brought to them.

It occurred to her then that she didn't even know the horses' names. She asked Chichiri, who had come to stand next to her.

"The stallion is called Kado, and the mare is Aya." He informed her cheerfully.

"They make a beautiful couple." She said, smiling.

"An unlikely one as well, no da." The monk responded. "Kado was trained by the head stable master for the Imperial army, and Aya was broken to be ridden by the ladies of the court, so they were housed in different quarters. If they had stayed where they were, they couldn't have met."

"An' if they hadn't, the lady would've missed out big time!" Tasuki added, as he joined them.

His eyes sparkled with unholy laughter, but Miaka refused to let herself get flustered. "What do you mean?"

The bandit seishi smirked. "Are ya sure ya really want to know?"

"Tasuki means that Kado and Aya have to be kept apart at night unless we want a colt on the way, no da." Chichiri interjected, with an exasperated glance at the younger man.

"Ohhh..." With widened eyes, Miaka glanced at Kado, just in time to see the stallion's gender extend to full length and emit a yellow stream. She blinked, then stared in disbelief, not sure if she should be horrified or impressed. To put it bluntly, the thing was...huge. There was no way that the smaller and finer boned mare could ever handle something that big- could she?

"If I were Aya, I'd run like crazy." She said, half under her breath.

"Kado's faster. He'd chase her down." Tasuki informed her. "Trust me, Aya will have a lot better time if she doesn't fight it. Nature kinda has a way of takin' care of these things..."

Though his tone was matter-of-fact, his sidelong glance was rife with sexual mischief. Miaka's tummy fluttered, and her face felt as if it had caught on fire. Were they still talking about the horses? "I...I suppose it does."

Their gazes held as the air grew heavy with pleasurable tension- tension that quickly dissipated when Chichiri gave a discreet cough.

"Would anyone like a carrot, no da?"


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After they went to rest in the shade of the pavilion, Miaka's discomfiture over the horses gradually faded. Stuffing her mouth full of carrot had helped, because it kept her from saying anything that could be construed as provocative. It also helped that Tasuki took pity on her and kept his teasing to a minimum.

Soon it was time to move on. Though she could have mounted Kado all by herself, Miaka found she enjoyed being lifted into the saddle as if she weighed no more than a feather. Tasuki's gallantry made her feel wonderfully feminine, as did riding within his protective embrace. She loved how he was taking care of her, and relished being treated like a lady for once in her life. It was a step backwards for a modern, independent young woman to admit that, she supposed, but she didn't feel one iota of feminist guilt. There was no harm in letting him pamper her, as long as she made sure to do things for him in return.

Pleasure quickly faded to remorse at the thought. She hadn't taken care of Tasuki. Telling him she loved him was only the first step; she also needed to show him how much he meant to her. She had no right to be satisfied and content when she hadn't made him feel everything he'd made her feel. That was going to change right now. Of course, there was only so much she could get away with out in plain sight, but she would do as much as she safely could to express the strength of her feelings for the fiery seishi.

Taking a deep breath, she allowed herself to sway towards her protector until her cheek was pressed lightly against one side of his muscular chest.

"You okay?" Tasuki asked, looking down at her.

"Couldn't be better." She replied, liking the way concern roughened his voice.

"Go ahead and get some sleep if ya want." He offered. "I don't mind."

"I'm not sleepy." She said, and proved the statement by moving her head so she could gently nuzzle the side of his neck, much as she'd seen Aya and Kado do to each other at the pavilion.

His audible intake of air gave her pause, but when no objection followed, she continued. After a moment, she felt his chest lift and drop in a deep sigh, and the clear acceptance of her affections encouraged her to improvise, adding feather-light touches of her tongue tip and a teasing nibble or two to her repertoire. When her mouth fastened onto his neck, he tensed slightly, his fingers flexing on her waist. Nevertheless, she kept going, drawing tiny circles on his skin with her tongue tip before daringly sucking in a bit of his skin into her mouth to give him a small but noticeable love bite.

Retaliation was sudden and swift. Rivulets of shocked pleasure coursed through her as the masculine hand splayed over her ribs shot upwards to cup her breast.

"Tasuki, no!" She exclaimed breathily, drawing back from her pleasurable task to look up at him.

He didn't answer, just slanted her an unrepentant grin before directing his gaze back to the road.

A quick glance forward told her that Chichiri was riding slightly more than two horse lengths ahead of them. Another glance down showed her that her uplifted arm hid the position of her seishi's hand from all from the most discerning view. As long as she didn't move her arm and they stayed behind the monk, and all he did was hold it, things would stay discreet. If not-

As if in answer to her thoughts, Tasuki began to mold and caress the mound of flesh he held with a confident and unhurried sensuality. As the warmth of his hand seeped beneath the silk, her nipple hardened in response, poking through the silk and into his palm, shamelessly begging for attention. He responded with gratifying speed, first rubbing it lightly and then grasping and rolling it between finger and thumb. When he began to tug at the aroused peak, simulating suction, Miaka tipped her head back and bit her bottom lip hard to keep from whimpering.

Her seishi's breath caressed her ear, and his lips pressed a brief, hot kiss against her temple before he spoke.

"Ya don't have to hold it in, y'know. I'll make sure no one can hear ya but me."

Her eyes closed against temptation. So unfair! How the heck was she supposed to administer to him while reeling under an erotic barrage of his own sexual attentions? Not only that, she didn't dare move her free arm, lest Chichiri or someone else along the road would see what was being done to her! Really, the only thing she did still have use of was her mouth!

Her mouth...and her words.

Now there was an idea. No need to hold it in, he had said. Well then, she wouldn't! She'd simply have to tell him what it was that she wanted to do! Granted, it was something she'd normally never think of doing, but nothing about this situation was normal. There was no time to lose. She had to prove to Tasuki that his needs were of paramount importance to her before it was too late. Embarrassment and girlish modesty had no place in that equation. If she held back, she'd bitterly regret it for the rest of her life.

Her breathing quickened in anticipation, and her heart thundered in time with the rapid pounding of hooves. Sly fingers continued their work, teasing and arousing her. A slow, throbbing pulse began to beat between her legs, but she forced herself to ignore the seductive rhythm.

"Tasuki..." The edge of arousal was in her voice.

He glanced down at her, wearing an intense expression. "Do ya like that?"

"Oh yes." A quiet moan slipped through her lips. It would be so easy to submerse herself in the sensations he was creating. "You're getting me that way again."

"An' what way is that?"

He gave her a smirk, clearly thinking she'd be too bashful to reply.

He was in for a surprise.

"All warm and tingly." She wiggled a little for emphasis. "And wet."

The smirk disappeared. He swallowed hard, and the sensuous motion of his hand slowed a bit. "For me?"

"Mmm hmm." Her gaze was heavy-lidded. "And you know what else?"

"What?" He asked, sounding hoarse.

"I need you." She confessed. "I need to touch you the way you're touching me."

His response was delayed as his hips shifted a little. "Ya do, huh?"

"Oh gods, yes!" Her eyes closed as she imagined herself doing it, then slowly opened to reveal the blaze of desire those thoughts had ignited. "I want to run my hands over your body and feel the warmth of your skin beneath my lips." She paused. "I want...to use my tongue on you."

Amber eyes went wide, then black with passion. "Miaka..."

His voice was a feral growl. Her lips parted as she moistened them.

"I bet you'll taste like cinnamon, all hot and sweet and spicy." The fiery heat of a blush prickled her skin, but she ignored it; there was no way she was going to hide herself from this man. "You have the most beautiful body, Tasuki. I can't wait to taste all of it..."

The muscular thighs on either side of her moved restlessly. His hand opened, encompassed and massaged the whole of her breast, rousing her even more.

"I want to hear you moan my name," she whispered with reckless abandon. "I want to make you as hot and weak as you make me! I want to love you with my mouth! I want you to come for me, again and again-"

"Miaka!"

Her name was an explosion from between clenched teeth. Undaunted, she released her grip on his holster strap to gently run her hand over his chest, no longer caring if anyone saw the caress.

A ragged breath escaped him as she pinpointed his nipple. She circled it with a fingertip, bringing it to a pebble-like peak, delighting in the deep groan the action elicited. A pulse visibly throbbed just below his jaw line; she bent forward to press her closed lips to it, and then parted them so her tongue could take measure of its rapid beat. Another low groan vibrated beneath her touch, and she peered up through her lashes to see if her ministrations had produced the desired result. They had. Tasuki's darkly flushed cheeks, blazing eyes and quickened breathing all attested to the fact that he was enjoying what she was doing to him. Nevertheless, his lips parted to issue a protest.

"Dammit Odango, ya hafta stop."

There was no heat or conviction in his voice. But even if there had been, it was too late for having second thoughts; she'd sent propriety and restraint to hell in a hand basket and didn't care a whit about getting them back. Tasuki deserved to hear the truth about how he made her feel, and nothing mattered more than expressing her love for him. Nothing.

"I can't stop," She said quietly. "At least, not until I've given myself to you in every way possible."


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She was tormenting him with pleasure, and killing him with words. He was so hard that he was actually in peril of exploding without any physical contact at all! But could he summon the strength to look away, to stop her from fooling around with his nipples, or to even get his hand off her breast?

Hell no.

Could he imagine her touching and tasting him, and giving herself to him in every way possible?

Dammit, he could. In vivid detail.

And the sweet torture continued.

"I mean it, Tasuki!" She said, with quiet intensity. "Tell me what you want of me!"

A litany of sexual positions instantly flew through his brain, knowledge garnered from a handful of professionals. However, their practiced, experienced ways had absolutely nothing on his sweet, virgin priestess. A single touch from her untutored hand would bring him more ecstasy than he'd ever known...

Kuso! His control was slipping badly, and they were miles away from any suitable place for that. Although, to be honest, where and when had never mattered to him before.

Since when did I become such a fuckin' paragon of virtue? He thought acidly.

Since ya fell in love. His conscience replied sharply. You love Miaka, and you want it to make it as good as ya can for her.

It was true. Her needs came first with him, and always would. He needed to put a stop to this for her own good. "Miaka, that's enough!"

The hurt that flared in her eyes made him wince.

"Why?" She asked. "I mean...would you like it if I did those things?"

He gave a short, agonized laugh. "Oh yeah. Enough that I wanna go somewhere, strip down an' have ya do it all right now!"

There was a crackling silence.

"All right then, what's stopping you?"

She was dead serious, he could tell. His body responded by sending a fresh surge of blood to his groin, making his erection almost unbearable. ""Cause it wouldn't be right!" He protested feebly. "It's your first time, an' you should have a nice room, an' a bed, an' all of th' frills!"

"I don't care about frills." Her voice poured over him like warm honey, submersing his qualms in a flow of sweet desire. "There is no wrong time or place if it's you! I love you, Tasuki."

That did it! To hell with virtue and chivalry, he'd have her right now. They'd ride off into the woods to find a clearing, or a leafy bower, or a fallen tree, and then-

His carnal scheming was brought to an abrupt end by a shouted hail.

"Tasuki! Is everything all right with the horse, no da?"

A muscle worked in the bandit's jaw as a surge of frustrated rage rendered him temporarily speechless. Then, as he realized what had happened, he let out a long, muttered string of curses. While he and Miaka had been messing around, he'd carelessly allowed Kado to drop into a meandering plod. Chichiri was right to show concern for their lagging behind; his mare had gotten so far ahead of the plodding Kado that the next bend in the road would've taken them completely out of sight.

The redhead took in and released a calming breath. No matter how frustrating the interruption, it wasn't fair to get mad at someone who was only thinking of their combined safety. Besides, it wasn't like the man would have had any idea of what had been going on anyway. "No! We were just takin' a breather! We'll catch up t'ya!"

The blue-haired seishi waved in acknowledgement, and slowed the pace of his mount. Though he knew the gesture was well intended, Tasuki glowered at the sight.

"I'm so sorry!"

He switched his glare to the object of his frustration. "Can't imagine why!" He snapped, as he jerked his hand back to her waist. Paradise denied, once again.

Miaka flinched at the bite in his tone. "I-I forgot-I wasn't trying to tease-I mean, I really want to do what I said!"

The misery and frustration etched in her expression mirrored his own, and he softened a bit. "I know ya do, an' it's my fault. I'm mad at myself for lettin' things get outta hand."

"It's my fault! I shouldn't have done that when we can't be alone!"

That was certainly true, but he couldn't blame her. Women had a lot harder time controlling their emotions, after all, so he should have been the one to stop her before things got out of hand. But it had been damn exciting to let her take the lead in initiating contact-not that he'd ever admit that to her! "Miaka, it's okay-"

"No it's not okay!" She insisted. "I have to explain so you know I was serious!"

He was in no state of mind to listen to a drawn-out, overly complicated analysis of the situation. He even opened his mouth to tell her so, but faltered under the impact of her imploring gaze.

"Please?" She whispered.

He made a helpless, impatient gesture. "Fine! Explain!"

Miaka's fingers ran along the length of her braid. "It bothers me that what happened between us this morning was so one-sided." She began.

He gave a vague nod, his eyes now riveted on her moving fingers as they played with the rope of hair. It was easy to picture her stroking his flesh in the same way...but he wouldn't, because he'd go crazy!

Clenching his jaw, he focused his attention on what she was saying.

"You gave me this incredible pleasure, and I took it without thought." She continued doggedly. "Sacrificing your needs for me has been something you've always done-"

He interrupted. "It ain't a sacrifice when I wanted to do it for you!"

"But it's still not fair, so I thought letting let you know how much I want to touch you and to make you happy would at least be a start to making things even." Her hand stilled, and her eyes misted with remorse as she gazed at him. "I messed up in doing that, Tasuki. I've made you upset instead of making you feel wanted and loved."

He stared at her, feeling a glowing warmth fill his chest; a source of heat that owed nothing to physical need.

Miaka had taken a risk in demonstrating her feelings for him, had overcome shyness and embarrassment in talking explicitly about her desires, and had been trying to provoke him into taking her in less than ideal circumstances... all because she had wanted to make him happy. It was the kind of contorted logic only a female could come up with, but what the hell, he liked it. And loved her for doing it.

"It's true I'm not used to hearin' stuff like that from ya." He told her, with a half-smile.

"I sounded like a cheap prostitute." She murmured, looking abashed.

"Ya didn't sound cheap, ya sounded hot! But that's not what I meant!" He barked, mentally cursing himself for the clumsy words. "Look, a whore is someone who would be talkin' like that to any guy. You wouldn't, would ya?"

Her gaze was unwavering. "No. I've never wanted to talk like that to anyone but you."

"An' why is that?" He added, wanting to hear it confirmed.

"Because I love you and want to be with you."

He conveyed his approval of her answer by bending his head and passionately capturing her mouth. Miaka seemed to melt against him as she parted her lips to receive the eager thrust of his tongue. He went on tasting her as thoroughly and for as long as he dared, then forced himself to break the kiss.

"I liked it, Mi-chan." He said unsteadily. "I liked it, an' I got absolutely no problems with you talkin' that way just to me! If I'm actin' like an ass, it's because I want ya to do what ya said, an' I've never been good at waitin' for what I want!" He wiggled his hips in an attempt to ease his aching loins. "Damn that Chichiri for always interruptin'! I'm so hard for ya it hurts!"

"Oh Tasuki..." Apology glistened in her eyes.

"Don't cry!" He added with haste. "It's all gonna be good!"

She blinked rapidly, spiking her lashes with moisture. "It is?"

"Hell yeah! There ain't any doubt that you're gonna be makin' me the happiest guy in Konan after hearin' all that!"

"I hope I'm going to get the chance to keep my promises."

"Why wouldn't ya? I'm not plannin' on sayin' no!"

She didn't reply, and concern drowned out his amusement at seeing her pained looking smile. "Miaka? What's the matter?"

She sighed, laying her head on his chest. "I knew I'd be breaking celestial laws in coming back here, but somehow I was able to do it. But how long will it last? Taiits-kun told me I couldn't stay after I had fulfilled my duties the last time, so doesn't it make you wonder why was I was allowed to return at all?"

Tasuki's mouth turned downwards as he struggled for an answer. Sacred law did mandate eternal separation between the two worlds- though the rest of it was wide open to interpretation in his opinion, Taiits-kun didn't need any more reason than that to suddenly show up and send Miaka home. She'd done it before when Tamahome had been forced to break things off and return his ring to her.

It had been the worst kind of agony having to stand by and helplessly watch as Miaka turned her back on love, holding the token of its existence between tightly clasped hands, her heartbreak etched in her every step and glance. It had felt as if a knife had been plunged into his heart when, amidst a deluge of tears, she had sunk to her knees and managed to utter a few choked words of thanks to all of her warriors.

But it was her anguished, wailing denial of fate as the red light took her away that had totally shattered his composure. As Miaka and Yui vanished, he'd knelt, and twin rivers of tears had coursed down his cheeks as he prayed, Great Suzaku, watch over Mi-chan. And if there's anything she needs, I beg ya to send me.

Had his prayer been granted? Had there been a miracle? But if Miaka's presence was a granted wish to be with Tama, it stood to reason that Taiits-kun would have appeared and made it clear as to why. That couldn't be the case if Tamahome was still missing, could it?

Perhaps it was an intervention because Suzaku would protect the life of his priestess; Miaka had attempted suicide once before when thinking she'd lost Tamahome for good.

No! Tasuki argued silently. She was a mixed up kid then. She grew up to face down Nakago and withstand coupling with Suzaku, an' at the end, she was as strong as all of us put together!

One more possibility left- that a threat to Konan still existed. But how could there be, with Tenkou was safely sealed away and all of the leaders of Kutou's evil empire overthrown? Peace had at last been established between Konan, Hokkan, Sairo and Kutou, so why would a priestess be needed? What had been left undone?

"Tasuki, I need to tell you something."

He glanced down at cheeks gone pale and eyes that were large with anxiety. One look into their green depths and all his protective instincts rose to the fore. "Go ahead."

"There's one thing I'm scared of more than anything."

He tightened his hold on her. "What?"

"Time!" She leaned against him, her hand now gripping star shaped folds of his tunic. "I know what I said about accepting what we're given, but I don't want regrets about not seizing the day just because something wouldn't be proper... "

As her voice broke, Tasuki set his jaw, thinking furiously.

To his knowledge, only the supreme beings could change the rules, since they were the ones that set them in the first place. No fluke occurrence or random stroke of luck could have brought them together like that. It would have taken the might and will of a deity. A god, who by his very nature, would want his priestess to find love once again. So, it stood to reason that Suzaku had been responsible for the priestess' return to Konan, and for dropping Miaka into his arms. Though what had followed was based on personal feelings and choices, their reunion had been a deliberate act of destiny.

The thought made him sit a bit taller in the saddle.

As a celestial warrior, he'd sworn to protect the Priestess of Suzaku with his life. As her friend, he'd fought equally hard for her happiness. As a man, he loved her with all that he was, and all that he had, the way she deserved to be loved. The result of all those things was that she had been entrusted to him; a priceless gift, straight from the heavens.

They were meant to be together as man and woman. It would happen. He was sure of it.

"Miaka, listen!"

She jerked a little, startled by the urgency in his tone. "Yes?"

"Suzaku ain't some sadistic bastard playin' with our lives just for kicks! He's the deity of love, an' we're his chosen ones, ain't we? If he was willin' to break th' rules for you by bringin' ya back here, then there's hope! He wouldn't do that unless he meant for us to be together!"

She lowered her gaze, was silent and still.

"I'm not givin' up, an' neither should you!" He vowed. "Don't take anythin' for granted, and sure, let's live like there's no tomorrow, but we still gotta believe that destiny is gonna work out for th' best!"

When she looked up, his heart was knocked sideways by the love shining in her eyes and the radiant smile blooming on her lips. Her hand sought his where it rested at her waist and threaded their fingers together.

"It already has, Tasuki." She said. "It brought you to me."

02-22-09

Dear Readers,

This story has not been abandoned. I am working on new chapters for this and my two other Tas/ Mia stories. I'm planning to update this fic very soon.

If you have read this story before, you may have noticed I've made some changes in the hopes of making it a better read for you. For those who may be wondering, there are approximately four more chapters to go.

Thank you for reading - I hope you will continue to enjoy the rest of 'Burned'. : )

With deepest gratitude,

KittyLynne

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