The fire surrounded him, merciless in its fury, pitiless in its desire to purge his shameful existence. Hot flames seared his skin; smoke filled his lungs, rendering him virtually incapable of breathing. His eyes screamed with pain yet he welcomed the torment.

With the fire from the fireworks up above me
With a gun for a lover and a shot for the pain at hand

Hate. Fury. Fear. Guilt. Rage... fear... hate...

He screamed in anguish and felt his body weakening. His entire existence was narrowed to the events within the last six hours; the events replaying through his tortured mind.

You run for cover in the temple of love
You run for another but still the same

No longer capable of fighting back, he shuddered and gave himself over to the memories, praying the fire would grant him quick release.

~~~~~
For the wind will blow my name across this land

"Tenkou has the stones now," Miaka said quietly, her eyes fixed on her lover's figure huddled a few feet away. "He won't even talk to me."

Chichiri, the ever-present voice of reason, spoke up. "You should give him some time, no da."

Miaka sighed sadly and stood up. "Hai, I know."

With one last longing look in Taka's direction, she slowly walked off in the opposite direction, unable to bear his torment any longer.

In the temple of love you hide together
Believing pain and fear outside

Tasuki watched her departure confusedly, then shifted his attention to Taka's forlorn figure half-hidden by the trees. "Ne, how come they can still stay together after all this?"

Nuriko shook his head and sent the bandit flying into a nearby tree. "They're in LOVE, baka!"

Tasuki slid down the tree slowly, slightly dazed. No matter how many trees the he made intimate acquaintances with, courtesy of the seemingly fragile seishi, he still hadn't gotten used to the treatment.

He hit the ground with a dull thud and shook his head.

"I don't get it..."

But someone near you rides the weather
And the tears he cried will rain on walls
As wide as lovers eyes

Sighing, Nuriko spared him one last glance.

"You will someday, Tasuki-chan."

With a half-smile, the former court princess rose with unconscious grace and bounded off to comfort Taka.

Still confused, Tasuki shook the last of the stars from his eyes and slunk away into the forest to sort out his thoughts.

Once under the trees, he relaxed somewhat, reveling in the relative peace afforded by their shady branches.

"He's hurt her so many times. If I were in love with someone, I'd spare her as much pain as I could,' he mused, his path taking him deeper into the forest. 'I just don't understand..."

The attack came without warning.

In the temple of love: Shine like thunder

Within one heartbeat and the next, the forest disappeared and the flame-haired seishi found himself completely engulfed within an angry wave of water.

In the temple of love: Cry like rain

He cried out, helpless in the raging currents, his most primal fear coming to the fore. He was drowning.

In the temple of love: Hear my calling

In the midst of chaos, a voice rang out, tethering him, saving him from the pounding waves. Fearfully, he clutched at it, using it as a lifeline.

In the temple of love: Hear my name

He could hear no words, just a soothing murmur. Faced with the mysterious sound and the brutal waves, Tasuki closed his eyes and gave himself up to the voice. The water dissipated slowly, the wavering image of a man in dark robes taking its place.

And the devil in black dress watches over
My guardian angel walks away

The vision cleared and Tasuki fell to the ground shaking like a leaf in a gale. In his mind, the voice lingered, comforting his fears and easing his pain. His body stood of its own volition as the last of his conscious mind slipped into the swirling void created by the haunting whispers.

Life is short and love is always over in the morning
Black wind come carry me far away

~~~~~
Taka bounded joyfully through the forest, his heart alight. He and Miaka had just made up and everything was all right with the world again. His tuneless whistling stopped abruptly as a shadow loomed in his path.

"Tasuki?" He called, peering into the gloom.

Suddenly, Taka found himself on the ground, the breath torn from his lungs. He stared up at his friend blearily, trying to gather his scattered wits.

"Tasuki, what on earth?"

His only answer was a snarl and another punch to the jaw. As he sprawled on the rocky dirt wit-wandering, the bandit finally spoke.

"You %^$#in' bastard!"

With the sunlight died and night above me
With a gun for a lover and a shot for the pain inside

For one mad moment, Taka was sure he had misheard. Picking himself up gingerly, he tried to reason with the other seishi.

"Tasuki..."

"Shut up!!"

This time, the punch was hard enough to draw blood. Taka flew across the clearing, slamming his ribs into the unyielding trunk of a nearby pine.

"All you do is cause her pain! I'm gonna fix it so you can never hurt her again!"

You run for cover in the temple of love

The shock at this declaration gave Taka the strength to blurt a reply. "What are you talking about?"

There was no answer and the bandit continued to stand his ground.

Despite the tearing pain in his side, Taka managed to lever himself up. "Iie, Tasuki." He choked. "I would never hurt Miaka. I love her with all my heart. What's gotten into you?"

He reached out to the other seishi in entreaty, only to be kicked aside.

You run for another it's all the same

"You &#^$in' liar! I'm gonna take her away from you!" Eyes blazing, the fifth seishi raised his tessen up over his head.

Taka's eyes widened. "Tasuki! YAMETE!"

With a sickening crack, the iron fan dropped.

~~~~~
For the wind will blow and throw your walls aside

Miaka lounged against the tree trunk, a small smile playing upon her lips. Taka had left to get her some food. And if there was anything she loved more than Taka, it was food. The thought of the two together was enough to throw her into a fit of ecstasy. Sighing blissfully, she leaned back into the tree and waited.

A few moments later, she spotted movement beyond the path. It was Tasuki.

"Ne, Miaka," the bandit began tonelessly, "Taka sent me here to get ya. Said he found a place that has food-"

"WAAIII!"

The rest of his sentence was cut off as Miaka grabbed his arm and literally dragged him back towards town in her wake.

~~~~~
With the fire from the fireworks up above
With a gun for a lover and a shot for the pain

Miaka slurped up the last drops of the delicious golden liquid and set the bowl down- on the empty air next to the table. Tasuki's eyes widened as the dish fell to the hard ground with a crash.

Across the table, Miaka was laughing obnoxiously. "Tasuki-chaaan! When did you get three heads?"

The fanged seishi smiled indulgently. The poor girl obviously couldn't hold her sake. "Maybe you should get some rest, ne?"

His concern went unnoticed as Miaka multiplied another of his features and began pounding the table in hysteria.

A small smirk on his face, Tasuki picked up the severely drunken miko and proceeded to the upstairs bedrooms.

~~~~~
You run for cover in the temple of love
I shine like thunder cry like rain

"Tamahome!!"

Miaka woke from the nightmare sobbing. She shot up and collided with a warm body that held her warmly. It took a moment, and then her sleep-fogged mind finally registered her comforter as Tasuki. Safe in his arms, Miaka wept.

Through it all, the flame-haired bandit held her tight, one hand stroking her hair softly. "Shhh," he murmured soothingly, "I'm here Miaka. He'll never be able to hurt you again."

And the temple grows old and strong
But the wind blows longer cold and long

Slowly, her tears subsided and she drew apart from his warmth. "Arigato, Tasuki."

He released her, eyes never leaving her face.

She looked up at him self-consciously, brushing the last of the tears from her eyes. Trying to raise a ghost of her usually cheery self, she smiled half-heartedly. "So, where's Taka and the others?"

His amber eyes darkened. "You don't understand," he muttered as he pushed her back down into the bed. "They ain't comin.'"

"Nani?!"

And the temple of love will fall before
This black wind calls my name to you no more

Miaka's startled gasp was quickly silenced as Tasuki clamped his mouth over hers. She pulled away in shock and disbelief. "Tasuki?"

"You don't have to worry, Miaka," he soothed as he wrapped his arms around her now shivering form. "I'm here. I'm not gonna let him hurt you anymore."

With that, he bent his fiery head over hers and kissed her again.

In the black sky thunder sweeping
Underground and over water

Dimly, Miaka started to realize what was happening but retaining a coherent thought was becoming more and more of a challenge to her still alcohol-fazed mind. The room started to spin and she clutched at Tasuki for support.

"Tasuki..."

Unaware of her discomfort, he took that as consent and pressed against her, lips trailing down her neck. Over and over, he murmured her name as he nipped her sweet flesh.

The sting of one of his fangs piercing her skin brought the world back with alarming clarity. Miaka gasped as a sudden pressure between her thighs made his intentions abundantly clear.

Whimpering, she struggled against him but her sluggish limbs refused to cooperate.

Sounds of crying weeping will not save
Your faith for bricks and dreams for mortar

"Tasuki," she managed, tears forming in her eyes, "yamete..."

The bandit pressed on, oblivious to her cries. The first button of her borrowed shirt popped off... then the second...

"Tasuki!"

All your prayers must seem as nothing
Ninety-six below the wave
When stone is dust and only air remains

Somewhere in the midst of his passion-fogged brain, he became aware that she was saying something. Assuming she was worried about Taka finding them in this position, he hastened to reassure her.

"Forget about him!" he whispered passionately. "He doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters except you and me."

A third button came off. There was no denying what the bandit intended to do. With renewed vigor, Miaka resumed her battle against her still paralyzed body, but to no avail. Frustrated, Miaka did the only thing she could do. She cried.

In the temple of love: Shine like thunder

"Tasuki! Yamete onegai! YAMETE!"

In the temple of love: Cry like rain

Her panicked screech pierced through his clouded his mind and he stared at her in abject horror.

In the temple of love: Hear the calling

She was crying. He had made her cry. All he had wanted was to make her happy and all he had done was make her cry.

And the temple of love is falling Down

Visibly upset, he grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently. "Why are you crying?" he demanded. "What did I do wrong?"

Without warning, the door to the room slammed open revealing a battered and bruised Taka leaning against the doorframe for support.

In the temple of love: Shine like thunder

"Get away from her Tasuki."

In the temple of love: Cry like rain

The bandit immediately shot up and pulled Miaka against him.

"She's mine now, Taka," he growled. "You're just the one who keeps hurting her."

In the temple of love: Hear my calling

"Iie, Tasuki. Miaka belongs with me. I love her. And no one, not even you can ever change that. We belong together, her and I."

In the temple of love: Hear my name

The warring voices in his head grew louder and Tasuki doubled over in pain. What was he doing? These were his dearest friends. Why was he trying to drive them apart?

Wait! Taka was hurting his precious miko. And, as a Suzaku seishi, he was honor-bound to protect her.

But wasn't he hurting her as well in the process?

Burying his head in Miaka's shoulder, Tasuki bit his lip, blocking everything out. For one moment, everything was silent. Then one of the voices returned with a compelling command.

In the black sky thunder sweeping
Underground and over water

"Kill him."

Filled now with a purpose, Tasuki raged from the bed and tackled the other man. The momentum carried both of them out the door and down the stairs below.

Already bruised and bleeding from his previous injuries, Taka screamed in pain as his body collided with the unforgiving ground. He lay on the wooden planks gasping for air.

Sounds of crying weeping will not save
Your faith for bricks and dreams for mortar

"Taka!!" Streaming tears accompanied Miaka's scream as she watched her love stand painfully and weave unsteadily back up the stairs. She cringed, knowing how much pain he was in, yet took comfort in the determination in his eyes.

"Tasuki," he whispered through swollen lips. "I'm the one who can make her happy. Listen to me-"

His words were lost again as an undefended kick sent him plummeting back towards the lower floor.

All your prayers must seem as nothing
Ninety-six below the wave

"How the hell can a guy like you make her happy? You're gonna disappear soon! You think THAT's making her happy?" the frenzied bandit screamed.

Somehow, Taka found the strength to lever himself up. He directed his broken gaze to his dearest friend, making no move to continue his advance.

"Tasuki, look at Miaka. She's crying. Did you make her cry? This isn't like you..."

When stone is dust and air remains
The only haven you can trust

Sensing the other man's hesitation, Taka pressed on, daring to take one excruciating step forward... then another... "This isn't you, Tasuki. You are honorable... and a good friend. Right now, the person hurting Miaka the most is you, seeing you like this..."

The flame-haired seishi blinked once... twice... as if registering his friend's words. Slowly, he turned to Miaka and was horrified to see her tears.

Pain welling up in his heart, he reached for her involuntarily. 'Could he be telling the truth? Am I hurting her more because of this?'

Before he could pursue that train of thought further, that inner voice silenced his doubts, simultaneously fueling his fury.

"It's all HIS fault," it hissed. "Kill him."

And the devil in black dress watches over
My guardian angel walks away

"Shut UP!" Tha bandit's cry was immediately followed by another sickening crack as Tama's ribs made contact with the wooden floor.

"Tasuki, stop!" Miaka shrieked, pulling at his arm ineffectively. "You're going to kill him!"

Taka looked up slowly, meeting her eyes, trying to will strength into her. "It's okay, Miaka. Believe in Tasuki. Believe..."

Life is short and love is always over in the morning
Black wind come carry me far away

Enveloped in a fiery rage, Tasuki pushed her aside and delivered another pointed kick at Taka's broken body. "Look at you! You can't even defend yourself! How can a man like you, with no powers, protect Miaka?"

On the floor, Taka whimpered in pain, unable even to summon up the energy to reply.

Disgusted, the bandit spat and turned his back to the bleeding figure, leaving it to its inevitable fate. "You're so pathetic."

Before Tasuki had traveled more than a few steps, he was stopped.

"You're right..."

Those whispered words, forced through a series of broken bones and swollen limbs reached his ears and he turned around in disbelief.

With the fire from the fireworks up above
With a gun for a lover and a shot for the pain

Though every inch of his body was in agony, Taka pushed himself up on his knees and slowly rose from the place on the floor stained with his own blood.

"You're right," the former seishi rasped, "I don't have powers anymore-"

His words were interrupted by a fit of coughing that shook his entire body. The sharp pain in his lungs made it near impossible to breathe but he pushed on.

"I might not be the man I once was, but there is one thing I do know. I love Miaka."

You run for cover in the temple of love
I shine like thunder cry like rain

"I love her so much I don't know what to do with myself. For her, I would do anything. It doesn't matter if people laugh at me, or mock me, or hurt me... no matter how much I have to suffer... if it's for her, then it's all worth it."

He was interrupted by another fit, this time, coughing up blood. Miaka gasped and tried to run to him but Tasuki clamped down on her arm.

After the coughing subsided, Taka met his friend's amber eyes once more and smiled sadly. "You know, even though I've become this worthless shell of a man, all of you still accepted me. For the first time in my life, I was happy. And it wasn't just because of Miaka. I belonged somewhere- with all of you."

And the temple grows old and strong
But the wind blows longer cold and long

Slowly, Taka, took one shaky step towards Tasuki... then another... "My feelings for Miaka will never change, and neither will my love for all of you. So, if you want to kill me, if that's what will make you happy, then... do it."

His tortured gaze locked onto Tasuki's shocked one, forgiveness and acceptance marking his features. He looked, for all intents and purposes, like a man ready to die.

And as the fifth Suzaku Seishi stared into the eyes of his best and dearest friend, he was filled with one desire.

Kill him,

And the temple of love will fall before

Tasuki slowly raised the tessen over his head. As if in a dream, he paused and slowly he registered everything surrounding him...

Miaka screaming in anguish- "NOOOO!!"

Taka bowing his head, his face angelic in its strength and serenity.

And that insistent voice boiling through his veins, its icy fists clenched around his very soul- "Do it!"

He started to bring the fan down. "LEKKA-"

Then suddenly, the world came back with an audible snap. Shattered recollections of the last few hours seared through Tasuki's mind in a blinding flash and he drove the tessen blindly through the floor in front of him, aborting the attack.

"I CAN'T BETRAY A FRIEEEENDDDD!!"

It was too late. His anguished scream was cut off as the fan exploded into flames.

This black wind calls my name to you no more

Hate. Fury. Fear. Guilt. Rage... fear... hate...

He welcomed the heat, the excruciating pain proving to be a far gentler mistress than the bitter thought of betraying his dearest friends.

Weeping, uncaring of whether from pain or grief, he clenched his fists and waited for the fires to cleanse him, to purge his very existence from this world.

In the temple of love you hide together
Believing pain and fear outside

Endless seconds passed... minutes... hours... he didn't care anymore. The pain was actually receding now. The fiery orange light that burned through his eyelids was fading into a soothing black. And just before he slipped between the cracks into oblivion, Tasuki sent out a final message to the ones he loved.

Gomen nasai, minna. I never meant for things to turn out like this. Heck, I was just a scruffy, loud-mouthed bandit from the mountains. I don't know what I did to deserve you people caring about me like you guys did.

Tamahome, I can never make up for what I did to you, but take care of Miaka for me. And I know you are the same man you once were. You just need to realize it. Hotohori, Nuriko, Chichiri, Mitsukake, Chiriko, I failed you all... I failed in my duty as a seishi, and I violated your trust. I'm sorry. Miaka... I'm sorry I didn't protect you like I should have. I'm sorry I made you cry...

A gentle, warm light bathed him and Tasuki knew he didn't have much time. Aishiteru, minna... zutto...

But someone near you rides the weather
And the tears he cried will rain on walls
As wide as lovers eyes

The world had frozen in shocked silence when the fifth Suzaku seishi was engulfed by his own soul's fire.

"TASUKI! NO!"

Taka was the first to recover. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he watched his dearest friend burning merrily to hell. Within a heartbeat, he had his shirt torn off and had flung it over Tasuki's body to dampen the flames.

In the temple of love: Shine like thunder

At the same time, Miaka screamed the fallen seishi's name and joined her lover at his side. Then they were joined by another.

"Taka! Stand aside!"

Taka shuffled to one side to make room for the newcomer but refused to leave his friend. Vaguely, he identified the deep- voiced speaker as Mitsukake but had no time to feel any joy in their reunion.

Miaka, on the other hand, latched onto the older seishi's arm desperately.

In the temple of love: Cry like rain

"Mitsukake! You can heal him, right? He'll be okay, won't he?"

The other man nodded distractedly, his full attention Tasuki's burned body.

While the healer concentrated on keeping the bandit on their side of the living, Taka kept at the flames, trying to ignore the heat seeping through his already sensitized skin.

In the temple of love: Hear the calling

"Tasuki," he seethed as he stamped out another little fire, "I swear if you don't live through this, I'm gonna freaking kill you!"

No response.

"Goddammit you stupid moron! Get UP!"

He was promptly rewarded with a swift kick to an already bruised face.

"Who are ya callin' a 'moron' you..."

It took a moment for it to register.

Tasuki blinked. "I-I'm alive?"

Mitsukake breathed in relief. "Hai..."

As one, Miaka and Taka tackled the singed bandit, tears streaming down their ash-streaked faces.

"Stupid... stupid... you IDIOT... what the hell were you trying to do?"

Miaka nodded, echoing Taka's thoughts. "Baka..."

Surrounded by their warmth and love, Tasuki felt tears forming in his own eyes. Clumsily, he returned their forgiving embraces, fat tears creeping down his flushed cheeks.

"Yeah, that was pretty stupid..."

And the temple of love is falling Down

Author's Notes: I don't really have much to say about this one except I hope it "hit" you in some way. Reactions are always welcome at tsukinouta@yahoo.com.

Disclaimers: Fushigi Yuugi and its characters belong to Watase Yuu. Rights are also held by Flower Comics, Shogakukan, Bandai, TV Tokyo, Movic, Studio Pierrot; US rights by Viz Communications and Pioneer.

"Temple of Love" belongs to Sisters of Mercy. The song is off the album, "A Slight Case of Overbombing," released in 1993.

No copyright infringement is intended. This story was written purely for the entertainment and enjoyment of other fans and I am not making any profit from it. I do ask, however, that my permission be obtained before posting this somewhere else.

Huge hugs to Lyra and Arion for encouraging me to finish this fic even when I wanted to abandon it. Credit should also go to Tasuki no Miko for her manga translations- even though I didn't reference them directly for this, I would never have understood what was going on if it weren't for her. Visit her site at: http://www.crosswinds.net/~tasukinomiko/Anime/FY/

"Burning Desire" Copyrighted © June 30, 2000 by Moonsong. All rights not previously claimed by the above are reserved.