I shivered against the prevailing cold as I parted the opening to the yurt with one hand and slipped inside. The small stove warming the hut, while still going strong, was nevertheless fighting a losing battle against Hokkan’s clime. I paused beside it, attempting to banish the chill from my hands, trying to focus on something other than my fervent desire to be back in Konan.
“That you, Nuriko?”
I started at the sound of Tasuki’s voice coming from the collection of blankets to my right. I mentally chastised myself at having been surprised by someone I already knew was in the yurt with me. Only I hadn’t realized he was still awake.
“Yeah, it’s me. Go to sleep, Tasuki.”
The mound of blankets shuddered as the man beneath them presumably shifted. There was a glimpse of bright red hair, permanently tousled.
“It’s too cold. I hate this damn place. How can ya stand t’go wanderin’anywhere?”
Realizing that my hands were about as thawed as they were likely to get, I made my way to my own bed roll and crawled beneath the layers. Tasuki was right – this place was too damn cold.
“You followed them, didn’t ya?” Tasuki asked, not bothering to wait to see if I was going to answer his previous question.
“I wanted to make sure no one else bothered them. They deserved a little private time.”
The former bandit grunted, probably amused, more likely disgusted by the idea of Miaka and Tamahome off alone together. Tasuki wasn’t much for public displays of affection.
I closed my eyes, forcing my mind and body to relax and embrace slumber. We’d be leaving at dawn. Oblivion was within reach when Tasuki spoke again, his voice much closer this time. He had rolled over toward me without my noticing. I must have been far more tired than I first thought.
“They know about Ryuuen now, don’t they?”
I turned my head toward Tasuki, eyes blinking open to make out the outline of his face in the dark.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Nuri…”
I felt the brief sting of cold air as my blankets were lifted long enough for Tasuki to wiggle beneath them. He tugged his own over the top of us both, creating a heavy, protective layer. Already I could feel his body heat mingling with mine. Already I felt warmer.
His fingers brushed over my cheek and he sighed.
“You okay?” he asked, concerned.
“Yeah. It was the right thing to do. Miaka deserved to know.”
Tasuki made some sound I couldn’t decipher as he pulled me closer, arms wrapped around my body, my head tucked beneath his chin. His lips may have ghosted a kiss against my hair, but I wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter if he had or hadn’t. It only mattered that he was here with me now.
Somehow Tasuki always managed to calm the inner turmoil within me. He accepted me for what and who I was, regardless if I was playing the part of a man or a woman. It didn’t matter to him, so long as he could joke and tease, and count on me to toss him into a wall whenever he needed a reminder about his lack of tact.
Other than Houki, who was back in Konan, Tasuki was the best and closest friend I had ever had. He knew everything about me. I knew everything about him. And only I knew about this side of him – the side that knew how to hold a needy friend close in the middle of the night.
Sometimes at night, when I couldn’t sleep and Tasuki was holding me close, I wondered what it might have been like to have grown up as Ryuuen. Would I have liked girls or was I really gay as Miaka was fond of calling me? Would I still have wanted Hotohori? Somehow I doubted that. I haven’t thought much of the Emperor lately other than to hope he was well and safe. I missed his company, but in the way I would miss the company of most of the others.
I don’t think I would have ever told Hotohori about Ryuuen and Kourin.
Tasuki murmured something in his sleep and tightened his hold around me, which in turn made me smile. I had him to thank for finding Ryuuen again, although I wasn’t sure if he was aware of that or not.
Maybe someday I would tell him exactly how much he had come to mean to me. For now, I was content to lie safe in his embrace and sleep.