Birthday Wish
By: Yahnkehy
Author's notes: So yeah, I wrote something quick (coughcough4partsmutcoughcough) to keep my muses moving. I've finished "Dazzling" and am still working around some other fic issues when I'm not consumed by school (note to you kids in highschool; you guys have it SO easy. Enjoy it while you can.).
Rating: Such an M rating. But, then again, all of my stuff is... does that mean I'm a hentai? Oh, yeah, forgot about that little quirk to my nature. :P
Pairing: Uh, do you really need to know to enjoy this? Okay, okay, fine.Tasuki/Tama (as most should know seme first and uke follows.)
Disclaimer: Uh, yeah, I own it all right. But, uh, (shifty eyes)I sold it to Watase-sama.(nodnod) Yeah, I sold it, that's the ticket! Oh,wait, you mean REALLY. Oh, then no, sadly, these bishies are NOT mine. No matter how much I WISH Tasuki was mine. I own a Tasuki plushie... does that count?
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP
Tasuki stretched and reached for the alarm clock, trying to kill the demonic thing that woke him from such pleasant dreams. "Mm, Tama, get up and find that thing before it goes out the fuckin' window." he grumbled, giving up and shoving the pillow down over his ears to try and block out the sound.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP
He kicked the bunk above him, "Oi! Get that damn thing to shut up, Tama!" He tugged the blankets up over his head and pulled them tight around his pillow, but the shrill beeping was still finding its way to his ears. "No more fuckin' parties if'n you're gonna set that goddamned thing for so damn early the next day." He growled and opened his eyes, shoving off the pillow and blankets as he glared around for the clock then gave up to stare at his watch. "Fuck, Tama, it's noon on Saturday, what th' fuck is so damn important that we gotta get up at such an ungodly hour?"
"Shopping." Tamahome –Tama to Tasuki and ONLY Tasuki –said from the opposite end of the room. "I need to get supplies for tonight."
He flipped off his shower shoes and went for the shrill alarm. Somehow he managed to keep the towel tucked around his waist as he bounded up to his bunk and smacked the small annoying clock. Smiling down to his roommate, he stuck out his tongue.
"You forgot, didn't you?" he said, legs swinging from the top bunk as he flipped a smaller towel over his head and scrubbed out the water. "My birthday party!"
Tasuki groaned, "It's too damn early to be so cheerful," he rolled over and reached under his bunk, pulling out a brightly wrapped box and tossing it up to his long time friend. "But, happy birthday, Tama." He grinned and sat up hoping that the 'Getting Girls For Dummies' book would make him laugh enough to not be upset over the large bill inside the front cover. He'd never been good about figuring out what to buy people, so he got gag gifts and gave them money to buy what they wanted.
He stretched again, arms going up over his head. "Lemme know if ya like it. I know you could definitely use it, Tama." He smirked, barely biting back a laugh.
Tama bounced happily as he tore into the bright paper. It was his first present of the day. It nearly made him wag his tail and succeeded in letting him forget how true that sentiment was.
"Oh, thanks." He said with an eye roll and a sarcastic bite, but a smirk curved his lips. "I need this like I need a hole in..." he opened up the cover and saw the crisp bill waiting for him and smiled. "Thank you, Tasuki!" He chimed and leaned over the bed to look at his roommate sitting sleepily below him. "Help me spend it this weekend?" Tama asked, his hair hanging down and dripping on the rug they had bought the first week they found out they would be bunkmates.
Tasuki grinned at his upside down friend. "Yeah, I'll buy the booze, you bribe the girls. Just don't get them damn alpha si girls this time. Last time we had 'em come to a party, Suou ended up poisoned by them damn aphrodisiacs. I dunno about you, but I ain't into alla that screwin' someone just 'cause I'm hyped up on some horn-dog juice."
He leaned around Tamahome and stood, grabbing up a pair of jeans out of the closet and tugging them on. "I'm gonna shower before we go." He yawned wide as he found a shirt in the mess that was his dresser.
Tamahome followed Tasuki with his eyes as he walked around the room. 'That wasn't a... no, couldn't have meant anything.' Tamahome waved the thought away from his mind and sat up, putting his hands between his knees and pouting.
"I'm not going to invite girls like that, moron." Then he picked up his present and grinned, leaning back on his pillow and flipping through the pages. "With this new tool, I'll be sure to nab a 'super hottie with lots of spunk and sass'." he chuckled at the wording in the preface pages.
Tasuki looked over his shoulder, "Please tell me it don't say shit like that. You start goin' on about 'super hottie' or 'glamorous funky chicks' an' I'm gonna hang myself. Its bad enough that Juumonji says that kinda puffed up crap tryin' to 'connect' with the younger generation." He grabbed his bathroom bag, his toothbrush, socks and a pair of boxers before waving at his friend. "Remember; 'Super fly' and 'honey babies' are baaaad words, Tama."
"What about 'fiiiiine'." he called after him with a burst of laughter. "Oh here's a good one, 'slammin' babe'."
Tasuki was out the door and out of earshot, so he threw the book to the side and shook his head. That book was hopeless for someone who wanted to pick anyone up. It'd be funny conversation at the party, though.
He sighed, now that Tasuki wasn't in the room the humor was lost a little. Using the time he had the room to himself, he undid his towel and got dressed. Looking in the mirror, he snarled at himself. Eighteen was when everything was supposed to start. He checked his back. Nothing. At least the magic was still strong, but he was afraid what tonight might bring. Eighteen was when all the crap started happening; he'd get his pheromones, the hormones would start. Tamahome wasn't ready for everything to change. He could only hope that the magic that old monk gave him would hold the most visible of his traits back. With one last check to his tailbone and a quick glance at his head, Tamahome pulled the polo shirt over his head and sat down in his desk chair.
Tasuki showered quickly, he hated the open shower room. Too many people he didn't know getting naked not too far from him made him more than a little leery. He'd never been closed off from other people, but he only let a few close. And seeing him naked wasn't one of the things he even let people as close to him as Tamahome see, much less a room full of no-name jerkwads.
He was lucky to get out without starting an argument this time. 'Heh, maybe them fuckers figured out that I don't want 'em lookin' at me.' He dressed quickly, not quite as brave as Tamahome to walk back in only a towel, and brushed his teeth. His hair he just dragged a hand through before making his way back to his room.
'He's 18 today. I know he said somethin' a long time ago about kitsune bein' all weird on their 18th birthday, but he seemed fine to me. Maybe he got lucky an' ain't gotta be all crazy-fangirl like he said his Ma used t'be.' he thought, nudging open the door to his room. "Yo. Let's get this done. Ya got yer money?" He asked as he tossed down his dirty things and grabbed up his wallet.
"Yeah, just give me a sec." Tama called over his shoulder as he rummaged through the drawers. "Have you seen my belt?" He searched the first three drawers, then became aware of Tasuki's impatient gaze and decided to call the scavenger hunt to a halt. "I'll find it when we get back." he said, patting Tasuki on the shoulder and throwing on his jacket. "So what's on the list?"
Tasuki cocked a brow, a smirk sliding over his lips as he sauntered out of the room. "Snacks, entertainment, booze, and anything else we wanna get. Ya know I suck at plannin' parties, I dunno why ya even let me try anymore. Last year's party bombed because I told everyone t'come in costumes. Me an' you were the only ones who dressed up, remember?"
Tamahome laughed out loud at the memory of two of them completely sticking out in full costumes last year at the Halloween party. He had a permanent blush on his face all night, so much so that everyone kept telling him he might have a fever. What was wrong with people? It was a Halloween party, they were supposed to dress up.
Tamahome had gone as an ancient Chinese warrior and Tasuki had gone as a fox. He had a cute little tail and fake ears. It was a joke only the two of them got, and Tasuki could only guess at what it would look like, since Tama had never shown him. It really looked good on Tasuki, actually, with his hair color. The animal inside Tamahome had to do a double take. He never told Tasuki how much of his perma-blush was due to Tasuki's choice.
Tasuki tucked his hands into his pockets, pitching his voice low to keep the rest of the milling students from overhearing what he was about to say. "So, anythin' different this morning?" He was actually kind of curious and interested in seeing just what the heck a kitsune would look like. There was nothing really different about Tamahome from other people, he just had sharper vision and a more keen sense of smell... which always gave Tasuki that little ping in his gut and caused his personal hygiene to become almost obsessive. He had no desire to have Tama sniff him and stare at him funny.
Tasuki's whisper broke Tamahome out of his stride down memory lane. "Hmm?" he said, confused, only catching the tail end of what Tasuki had said. It took him a bit to piece together the question. When he did, Tama's cheerful grin faded. "Nothing so far. I mean, maybe it's gradual or maybe I got out of it since I've been suppressing the whole thing all this time." God he hoped the latter was true. He hadn't seen his mother when she had turned 18, but he was born nine months after her birthday to the day and he heard how his father had just been a random guy she happened to meet on the road that night. Tamahome had no intention on turning into a sex-crazed creature on his birthday, and had little stomach to handle the idea of having kits nine months from now.
Tasuki cocked his head; "Maybe you'll get lucky. Did ya ever ask your Ma what it was like? I mean the change part, not the whole sex-crazed fox demon part." He rubbed his lower lip in thought. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to let Tamahome wander too far away from him tonight. "Hey, do me a favor?" He paused, his brow furrowing as he tried to think of a way to say it without sounding strange. "Don't get too far away from me tonight. If'n ya start feelin' funny or ya get any wild urges, just tell me an' we can head back to the room. I don't want ya gettin' all crazy in a group of people without me knowin' where ya are."
Tamahome smiled, "You'll watch out for me?" he asked with a coy tilt of his head and a laugh. "I'll be fine, but I appreciate it." He skipped ahead of Tasuki and ran to the car. "Hurry up, we don't have that much time and we still need to decorate," he called to his friend with a wave as he waited impatiently at the passenger-side door. Yes, he had asked her and no, he didn't want Tasuki knowing what the change was like. It made him sound so crazy.
Tasuki shook his head at Tamahome's obvious hedging. "Okay, okay." He slowed his pace, deliberately taking his time. "Hold your pants on, Tama, we've still got a couple of hours. It ain't like we got a whole lot to set up. How dressy can we make the lake? Put up a few lanterns, set up the sound system, and put up a few tables. It ain't that much."
He finally gave in to the infamous 'Tamahome puppy look' and unlocked the doors and climbed in. "Don't gimme that look, ya know I can't say no to it." He started the engine and closed his eyes. "Nothin' like the sound of a big block V8 on a Saturday morning." He grinned over at Tamahome and put the car in gear. "Okay, anyway, where first?"
Tamahome grinned back at him, sticking out his tongue. "To the liquor store!" he said, pointing the way as if he were leading an army. "Then we have to pick up the stuff I ordered from the party store. After that; we get cake. Then get Juu-san to help us set up the speakers and we're done."
He rattled off the steps of his busily planned day with a big grin, but as he finished, the grin faded. He could feel a pushing in his chest and his suppressed features were getting itchy. Tamahome caught his breath and concentrated on steadying himself. Refusing to scratch his head and backside, his fingers twitched before he clenched them shut. He closed his eyes and tried to calm the feeling before Tasuki caught on.
Tasuki backed out of his parking place then took off down the road towards the liquor store. "So, I was- hey," he slowed down and looked over at Tamahome, flicking his eyes back to the road occasionally. "Hey, you okay?" He put a hand to Tamahome's forehead to check for a temperature, but found none. "Ya look kinda pale. Need me to pull over for a minute?" he dropped his hand to Tamahome's shoulder, offering comfort to his distressed friend.
The touch sent heat through him, and Tama had to swallow the uncomfortable urge it evoked. Looking up at Tasuki with a reassuring smile, he shook his head. "I'm ok, just got a little nervous about how much we need to do." He looked out the windshield and pointed to the stores dotted down the side of the road. "We'll get everything done, the store's not far."
Tasuki nodded and turned back to the road, "Okay, I was gonna say I was kinda curious about if'n you're ever gonna lemme see what you really look like. Are ya fuzzy? Shorter? I know ya don't want me t'see 'cause ya think I'm gonna stare at ya, but I'm still curious." He turned in at the liquor store and parked. "Ya don't have to, I'm just nosey. Anyway, wanna come in or wait out here?"
"I'll come in," he said, the confidence slowly returning to his voice. "Want to make sure you get good stuff."
Tama got out of the car and stretched. He never had any intentions of sating Tasuki's curiosity. He'd seen it and he knew anyone else who saw his bushy tail and little pointy ears would laugh. How could they not? He fiddled with the white and red bracelet he wore. As long as that was in place, everything would be ok. Taking a deep breath, Tama followed Tasuki in through the automatic doors.
Tasuki wandered up to the counter. "Yo, we need a few things for a birthday party. A keg of beer, about thirty or so bottles a whiskey. This guy will tell ya what kinds of whiskey we want." He said jovially to the tiny woman behind the counter. "Oh, and we're gonna hafta have ya bring 'em out to the lake in about three hours. I'll pay the extra delivery fee."
He patted Tamahome's shoulder and grinned. "You handle what kinds of whiskey, I'm gonna see if there are any good kinds of sake floatin' around here. I'll be right back, Birthday Boy." He waved at the woman and wandered off to look for his drink of choice.
Tamahome looked back to the girl sheepishly. "Um... not thirty." he corrected Tasuki's over shoot, "we'll take about twenty and that ought to be plenty."
The woman just nodded and got out a piece of paper to write down his order. He told her what he wanted, showed her his ID and went to go look for Tasuki down the isles. "Ok, done there." he grinned.
He could feel another –was this one stronger? –wave of heat run through him. His eyes nervously flicked to his bracelet and his hand went to it to make sure it was secure. Shaking off the feeling again, he finished, "Find anything over here?"
Tasuki held up two bottles of sake, a wide grin on his face. "We're saved!" He crowed, bouncing happily over to Tamahome's side. "Now I ain't gotta drink whatever else them other jerks wanna drink. I got my own."
He slung an arm over Tamahome's shoulders and led him back to the counter. "How much do I owe for alla this stuff?" He asked, dropping his arm from Tamahome's shoulders and digging out his wallet.
The woman looked down at the tally she was keeping then back up to the redhead. "Is the sake included?" She asked, eyeing the bottles.
Tasuki nodded, "Yeah, all of it on one tab. So, how much?" He asked, setting his sake on the counter to be rung up.
"$742.87, sir. Will that be cash, check or charge?" She replied.
"Damn, that ain't too bad. Debit." He answered, swiping his bankcard and punching in his pin. "There. Three hours you guys will deliver it, right?" At her nod, he grinned and scooped up his bag and slung his arm around Tamahome again. "Come on, party store next and then cake, right?"
Tamahome was dragged away even though he still stared slack-jawed at the tally. "S-S-Seven hundred? Oh god, I think I'm gonna faint." He said, really feeling a little dizzy. "Tasuki, you have enough money for this? We don't have to get so much."
Tasuki shrugged, "My best friend only turns 18 once. I've been savin' up since last Christmas, I wanna make sure ya have a damn good time. Besides, if we show up with too little booze, we might have a few brawls on our hands."
Releasing Tamahome's shoulders, he put his sake in the trunk and hopped in the car. "Come on, slow poke, we gotta get things done!" He stuck his tongue out at Tamahome with a faint smirk.
"Ok, ok." Tama said, regaining his footing and composure. He felt a little guilty that Tasuki was doing all this for him. Yeah, he was his best friend, but that was a lot of money and that didn't even include the decorations or food or anything.
Tama got into the car a little dejectedly and sighed, curling up and looking out the window at the passing scenery. His birthday better be something Tasuki could look back on for years to come and say he had the best time of his life.
Tasuki pulled out of the liquor store parking lot. "Which party store did you get your stuff sent to? The one on the north side of the campus or the one near the lake?" He asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
The little sigh hadn't been missed, but he already knew Tamahome's take on spending money: Don't do it unless absolutely necessary. He wasn't about to apologize, though. Tama deserved for someone to spoil him a little bit, especially since today was the oh-so special day. He'd only heard vague things about Tamahome's mother, but knew enough that it kinda scared him. He didn't want to lose his best friend to some stranger just because Tama was too pure hearted to sleep with someone and then leave them.
"The lake." Tamahome replied, trying to shoo the melancholy thoughts from his mind. "It'll all fit in here, yeah?" He asked, turning around in his seat and looking to the back. He was smiling again. If Tasuki insisted on spending, then Tama would be doing an injustice to not be happy about it. The money was, after all, to make him happy, so he'd give Tasuki every cent back in smiles. It wasn't insincere and letting his mouth curve up once lent itself to more genuine smiles along the route.
Curling back around, Tamahome felt a rush of fire through his system that nearly froze him where he sat. His heart pounded in his chest and he felt the heat settle in his belly. His cheeks must be red too, because the fire inside of him felt very... naughty. Tama scooted away from Tasuki, as far towards the window as he could go, this was one state Tama didn't want Tasuki to ever have to see him in.
Tasuki grinned over at Tama, "Yeah, we got plenty a room in here. Juumonji is gonna bring the tables and stereo system in his truck, so alls we gotta fit in here is food and decorations."
When Tama turned and scooted away, he cocked a brow and looked over at his friend. "Hey, what's the matter? Your face is red. Damnit, I knew you weren't okay. I'm pullin' over." He growled out, sliding into the far lane and onto the shoulder of the road. He turned on his hazard lights and shut off the engine. "Okay, now, you're gonna tell me what's wrong, and I ain't takin' 'I'm fine' for an answer this time. You got a fever or somethin'?" He asked, turning concerned eyes to his best friend.
Under Tasuki's intently concerned gaze, Tama's face brightened a few more shades. He shook his head. "It's really nothing, just a side effect or something. I'll be ok I just… it's feeling a... I don't think I was lucky enough to escape the 18th birthday curse entirely."
Tama bit his lip. It was quivering and wanting to say more. Shifting nervously in his seat, Tama tried for another smile. "Thanks for worrying, but I'm really not going to explode or anything. I still have this." He said, lifting up his wrist and pointing proudly to the grungy bracelet. "It's guaranteed, so no worries."
Tasuki raised a brow. "'Entirely'? What does that mean? Ya got your fangs in or something?" He leaned down, trying to peek into Tamahome's mouth and see if he could find any fangs, but his lips were closed in a tight smile.
"Come on, Tama, just spit it out and tell me what it is. We ain't goin' anywhere until I know ya ain't gonna go passin' out or nothin' on me." He crossed his arms over his chest, a frown on his lips that had his own form of fangs bracketing his lips.
Tamahome sighed and rolled his eyes, the feeling had passed and he was relaxing again. "I'm not going to pass out, it's just passing waves of intense... feeling." he peeked an eye over to Tasuki's grouchy position, trying to weigh out what else to tell him. "The whole thing is, I guess, supposed to make you unable to resist the urge to mate." Tama said overly embarrassed at his own nature.
"It's in my blood, so I guess I'm not going to go the whole day without being just a little... you know, sensitive to that kind of stuff, but I'm sure I'll be ok. Like I said, this thing is amazing. It's got some kind of old seal on it and it's kept mostly everything away from me so far." Tama smiled at Tasuki, tipping his tongue to his regular human canines, "I already have my fangs, and all the rest. It's because of this that I'm not a walking freak show, so have some faith."
Tasuki considered that for a moment. "Okay, fine, but I still think ya ain't tellin' me everything." He grumbled and eased back out into traffic, heading towards the cake shop first since it was closer.
"I don't think you'd be a walkin' freak show even without that bracelet, Tama. I been beggin' for how many years for ya to show me at least once? What, ten years now? Maybe after ya get over this... thing where you're all... sensitive, you could show me so I don't gotta wait until you're asleep and look for myself." He said it teasingly, but he was very tempted to do just that. The curiosity was eating at him and had been since Tama had first mentioned being something other than human. He was starting to think that it was only a fantasy.
Tamahome's eyes went wide. "You'd do that?" He made a mental note to not take off his bracelet even when he went to bed next. He really had no intention of showing anyone the fangs, tail and matching ears he had.
Tasuki laughed, "Nah, temptin' as it is, I wouldn't. Don't look at me like that, Tama, ya make me think you're afraid a me. It's just that we grew up together and I don't even know if that is really what -Just forget it, okay?" He turned back to the road, easily pulling the car into the parking lot, parked and got out. He opened the door then stopped. "You just wait here, I'll go get the cake." He slammed the door behind him and sauntered into the bakery.
Tama stood blinking at the glass door that shut behind him. He stared into the window and watched Tasuki approach the counter. He frowned. He felt like a dog tied to a leash, watching his master and awaiting his return. His pout deepened. Why was Tasuki so curious about his other form? He wasn't that, he was him. Nothing changed other than the features. It's not like he was hiding anything from him other than pure physical esthetic. Tama fiddled with his bracelet. The bone felt heavy in his hand, chipped in a few places from so much wear. He had always wondered how the blood stayed on the other red beads even when he wore the damn thing in the showers.
What if he did take it off? Just for a second or two, just to show Tasuki how much he wasn't missing of his best friend. Tamahome considered it, but quickly shook his head. Any day but today. Maybe after the threat was gone, he would.
Tasuki quickly returned with the cake and handed it over to Tamahome. "Here, I'd put it in the back, but I don't wanna take the chance of it sliding off when I go slingin' us around corners." He slid into his seat, his former good humor returned. "So, we got alcohol, cake and now to the party store for decorations, right? Ya never did tell me if'n ya picked a certain theme or if it was just regular streamers and paper lanterns."
"Nothing special." Tama informed Tasuki. "Just some basic stuff. Colors are gray and dark blue," he said with a shrug. He hadn't wanted to pick colors. He just wanted a nice little party, but the man behind the counter of the store floated him along the isles and made him choose things he didn't even know he needed. He was too much of a sucker for salesmen.
Tasuki nodded eyes on the road. "Arright, ya didn't already pay for it, though, right? I told ya that you don't get to pay for nothin' since this birthday party was my treat." He cocked a glance over at Tamahome, "You didn't pay for nothin', right?"
Tamahome looked away and out the window. He was a terrible liar. "I didn't... not pay for anything…" he mumbled into his hand.
Tasuki frowned. "Damnit, Tama." He grumbled as he pulled into the parking lot of the last store they had to stop in, "I'll just hafta give ya the money back. I said that I was gonna pay for it, so I don't want ya trying to refuse me." He opened the door and stepped out. "Come inside. We're gonna find out how much I owe ya."
Tamahome pouted. "I didn't spend too much here, and it's my birthday. If I don't want your money I don't have to accept it," he said with childish defiance. He tagged along at Tasuki's heel, knowing just how much the bill was. "It was only about fifty, so if you really feel bad, just give me half and we can call it even." He hoped Tasuki would take the settlement. The real bill was closer to 150.
Tasuki cocked his head back, looking at Tamahome's pleading smile and sighed. "Fine, but I want the receipt so I know exactly how 'close t'fifty' we're talkin'. You forget, I grew up with ya." He swung open the door and wandered up to the counter with a smirk. The girl behind the counter was cute, brown hair, pretty face. "Hey, darlin', can ya help us? We're here for a pick up. Under... What name did ya register it under, Tama?"
"Huh? What?" Tamahome was snapped out of something like a daze. "Um... It's under Tamahome," he said finally getting his bearings right. "Kitsuku. Tamahome Kitsuku." he repeated with an apologetic smile to the poor girl he was just leering at.
Tasuki quirked a brow but ignored the strange stare Tamahome was giving the clerk. "Tamahome Kitsuku, darlin'. Could ya get it for us an' maybe let me see the sales receipt? I wanna pay for half of it."
The girl nodded, looking back at Tamahome as if transfixed. Tasuki's voice snapped her out of whatever spell she had been under and scurried off to the back.
Tasuki turned to Tama. "What was that?"
Tamahome snapped a momentary glare his best friend's way, then shook his head. "I... uh... I don't know... She was kind of… pretty, I guess."
She was pretty, but it was more than an interested glance he had looked at her with. That was confusing, and Tama could feel the rush of heat tingling just below his control. Tamahome reached a hand up around the back of his head and scratched his hair nervously. It was a just a habitual gesture of embarrassment, but as his fingers brushed over the section of skin where his ears should have been, he felt like purring. In fact he wasn't too sure he hadn't. The embarrassing heat stopped, his eyes slipped closed, and a smile drifted to his lips as he scratched a little more firmly.
Tasuki stared at Tamahome in surprise for a moment. Since when did Tamahome purr? He glanced back to make sure that the clerk wasn't coming yet and scooted around to stand directly in front of Tamahome, leaning his ear closer to make sure that he was actually hearing a purr.
"Um, sir?" The clerk questioned, staring at the odd couple that seemed a little too close. "I have your order, but I don't have the receipt. It shows in the system as being paid for, though, just not how much."
Tamahome was vaguely aware of someone close to him and he leaned in a bit to nuzzle the welcomed body. Someone spoke and woke Tamahome up from his momentary lapse in sanity. His eyes opened and he saw how close he was to actually nuzzling his best friend. He jumped away, a stain on his cheeks. "Forget the receipt, I wanna get back home, so..." he looked around nervously, making a visual effort to keep his hands away from his would-be ears. That had felt really good.
Tasuki looked over his shoulder as the clerk spoke, entirely missing Tamahome's reaction except for the stuttered words. "Thanks. Okay, Tama, we'll just settle up later." He took the large bag and headed to the door. "Come on, we can't go home right now, we gotta get your party set up. Thanks, darlin'." He grinned and waved over at the starry eyed clerk who was intently watching Tamahome.
Tamahome felt himself being pulled back towards the desk and was surprised to find it was his own body doing the pulling. A dark grin played on his lips before his brain caught up to his actions and slapped him. "Let's just hurry." Tamahome reached out his hand and grabbed Tasuki's arm, hoping that he'd avoid any further pulls towards the clerk.
Once outside, he felt a bit better, but he clung on to Tasuki's arm as if it were his only safe point in the world. Then, all of a sudden, it wasn't. Tamahome's keen nose caught his friend's scent as he clung to him. The urge that the spicy aroma awakened in him frightened Tamahome. He scuttled away to the passenger side of the car, grabbing hold on his bracelet tightly as if he could squeeze more magic out of it.
"God, I need a drink. Knock me out before the party starts and let me know how it went afterward." Tama whined as the feeling subsided and he sat down in the car. He made a mental note to not stay too close to anyone that night.
Tasuki sighed as he dropped the bag into the backseat and climbed into the car. "I wish ya had said ya didn't wanna have a party a month ago before I sent out invitations. Come on, it'll be fun. I'll keep ya outta trouble, I promise." He gave Tamahome a reassuring smile, patting him on the shoulder while completely missing the fact that his friend wasn't talking about pre-party nerves. "Don't worry, we'll be gettin' drinks aplenty once we finish gettin' this stuff set up. We've probably got about two hours until Juu comes with the tables and stereo stuff. So, we can just hang some lanterns an' drink a little sake while we wait. Sound fun?"
Drinks sounded more than good. Tamahome needed something to calm his nerves. Disregarding the tiny voice at the back of his head that told him it was a bad idea, Tamahome nodded to Tasuki. "Can't wait."
TBC…