Disclaimer: Not mine, No sue.
I finally figured out where this might occur... soon after Miaka and Tamahome promise themselves to each other ("engaged," but not) but still can't touch one another.
I GOT IT!! It's the day after the festival. I'm pretty sure there's an extra day in there that we skip ("we'll be leaving in a week." **skips the days so the audience isn't bored to death**) It's also before it gets all depressing, what with Tamahome's family and all (and the drastic change in his personality...). Since this is in the middle of fact, I promise I shall change nothing.
That is, if I haven't already, and that extra day doesn't exist...
Enough talk! Let the madness continue!
An Interesting Revelation, part 2
Tamahome breathed in a great gulp of oxygen and let it out slowly and contentedly, ignoring any nausea for the time being while he melted into his hard wooden chair. His mind held everything one thought at a time (since more than one would overload him), and his vision was blurry on the edges from the incredible amount of alcohol he had just taken in. It definitely wasn't the right time now, it seemed, to talk about Tasuki; the two had run into some drinking buddies, and a heated contest (he didn't know HOW he had gotten talked into it) had ensued between himself and Saboro, a sixty-seven year man going on twenty, and the best drinker of them all. A legend among the bars, he could put away a hundred shots easily and not even begin to visibly waver until hundred-sixty... only God knows when his mind trouble began. But this was to be expected; when you've spent most your lifetime making your money doing something, it's logical to assume you're skilled at what you do.
Luckily for Tamahome, Saboro had been drinking for quite a while before, and was so out of reality at the time of the challenge he couldn't remember how much he had taken in already. He was out after fifty-two.
Tamahome considered himself lucky, as did the ten or so men currently present, although most were so caught up in it all they cheered like nothing else. His victory over the king wouldn't win him any big respect in the long run, but at least it won some respect from his buddies for now.
"WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOAAAAAHHH!!" Tasuki shrieked, flinging one bottle-filled hand up into the air while the other hand plopped down onto Tamahome's shoulder, seeming to know it would be a mistake to grapple him. "YA BEAT SABORO!! HOLY #@*&, YA ROCK, TAMAHOMIE!!"
"Damn fool challenged after THAT much drinkin'! Tamahome won fair and square if he's gettin' THAT cocky," another friend said. Putting his other hand onto Tamahome's unoccupied shoulder (Tasuki had forgotten his hand was still on his shoulder), he shook the guy in congratulations, making Tamahome's stomach jostle a little. "Congrats, man! You're gettin' easier at this!"
"Yeah, I'm not bad," Tamahome grinned, a little pride twinging at him. He was mostly happy about the money he had won, and was about to start counting it when the man continued.
"'Course, you're not gettin' easier at anythin' else."
Some giggling. A look of confusion spread across Tamahome's face.
"What's that mean?"
"Nothin'..."
That reply didn't stick for long. A different man was heard:
"Hell, boy, you mean to tell me that you've got a sugar of a fiancé like that and you STILL haven't got laid?"
The giggling increased. Tamahome felt his face redden a little, something that didn't happen too often around the guys.
"Wha... since when do I have a fiancé?!"
"Aw, cut the crap, Tama my man. Stuff about our little boy-brawler turned big spreads awful fast 'round here," one of the others said.
"So what's your excuse? You too nervous, 'zat it? 'Fraid you'll miss or somethin'?" An eruption of laughter rocked the walls of the tavern, and Tamahome frowned.
"How the hell d'you even know about that? Eh?"
"Boy, ya got virgin written all over your body!" one person replied, obviously not intending to tell him a real answer. More laughter.
Tamahome grunted. "Bullshit. For all you know I might be gettin' more than all of you put together. It wouldn't be too easy," he added in a bit of a slur.
This, to Tamahome's regret, only tensioned the atmosphere a bit, and the topic turned back to him stronger than ever. He felt himself get angrier as they spoke, the dangerous side of the alcohol surfacing at an unsafe pace. Tasuki, who still absently had his hand on Tamahome's shoulder, had been glancing towards the bar self-consciously every once and a while; two women were whispering and giggling, looking away quickly whenever he turned towards them, and then flashing their eyes at him as if to see if he was still looking. However, he felt the aggressive energy slowly gaining strength in the body beneath his hand, and he started to gain a little interest in what was going on in front of him. For once, a drunk Tasuki sat on the sidelines; he didn't say a word.
"Ya don't seem the type to be too noble when it comes to waitin' for the hitch..."
"Yeah, no kiddin'."
"Anyone who hangs out with us ain't too noble..."
"I still think he's nervous..."
"Maybe he can't, um... you know..."
A few men pondered on this, eyes traveling down, while Tasuki said "Ooooooooooo..." and backed away from Tamahome like he had a bomb strapped to him with ten seconds left on it. This was pretty much the case, as Tamahome was pissed, to say the least. He was about to get up and beat every person around him into a whimpering, bloody, pathetic excuse for a man, when a new, deep, husky voice slurred in:
"We know aaallllllll 'bout your marriage plans, Tamah'me."
Tamahome blinked in surprise, and saw that the figure sitting across from him had gotten out of its flumped-over position. Saboro was leaning back in his chair, looking at him with his glazed-over, yet somehow wise, eyes. He grinned at Tamahome and continued.
"Guezz yer not used to bein' this smashed," he said, eyeing Tamahome's clenched fists. "If ya were, yeh'd see they're all jus' pullin' yer chain. Actin' like fools 'n stuff, like they uzualy do. Stand down, men! Yer embarassin' the lad."
Some disappointed groans were heard, but they obeyed willingly enough; poking at Tamahome apparently had its moment and gotten old. Tamahome blinked again, seeing the sudden change in mood, and shook his head a bit to clear it. Oh well, he thought. We're all pretty out of it right now... better not hold anything against 'em.
"Tha's better," Saboro said, seeing Tamahome's withdraw. "Besides, you can't really blame 'em for teasin' ya 'bout this."
Tamahome tilted an eyebrow. "How do you know about that, anyways?" he asked.
Saboro's grin got even wider. "Aww, cum on, boy! Somethin' tha cute can't escape us! A Suzachu War'ur fallllls in luuuve with his prieztess. Idn't it romantic, fellas?"
An chorus of "awwwwwww"s, giggling, and honest laughter ensued, completely lifting the whole area into a much lighter, carefree atmosphere, taking Tamahome into it. By the time the noise died down, however, his hair was tousled to the maximum and his body ached a bit from all the elbowing. Plus, Tasuki, in the midst of all this, had snuck around to standing right behind Tamahome. Grinning like crazy, he had lifted him up off his chair in a bear hug (making him almost scream), yelled, "LEMME KISS THE GROOM!! C'MON, KISSIE KISSIEE!! SMOOCH DA GROOM!!" at the top of his lungs, and gave Tamahome a huge kiss on the cheek, turning up the sound effects for all to hear. Amidst all the laughter, Tasuki plopped him back down when he seriously started to struggle, and then fell back into the rest of the group, laughing like he usually did when he was drunk... kind of a cross between a hyena and himself.
Tamahome was beet red by that time. "I still don't get how you know about whether or not I had sex with her," he finally sighed. ***Neither do I! ---Saledis***
Saboro grinned. "C'mon, boys... lez back off. Whatev'r reasons he's got for not touchin' her, they mus' be good ones. Lez jus' enjoy the night, while it's still young!" he hollered out in conclusion. As quickly as the topic had been brought up, it was dropped. A cheer arose and filled the night, and a card game began.
***
Tamahome walked down the street at a sluggish pace, Tasuki almost bouncing along beside him, his body much more used to being intoxicated than Tamahome's. They had left the tavern laughing their goodbyes, and had continued laughing with each other for quite a while down the road; both of them had actually made some money that night at cards. But now, a blanket of silence had covered the two, to the point of being awkward.
Now, Tamahome thought, is the time. Maybe since he's so drunk it'll be easier.
He cleared his throat. "All right, Tasuki."
The redhead stopped dead in his tracks. Tamahome smiled to himself; he must have been waiting for this all night, preparing, and it still caught him off-guard. Tamahome kept walking and turned around to face him, since he made no move to turn around himself.
"Gimme the goods. It's been eatin' you up, right? Get it off your chest, man! Isn't 'listnin' to your problems' a requirement in the good buddy job description? C'mon, spit it out. I won't leave you alone until you do!"
With that, he leaned foreword and stared directly into Tasuki's face. Tasuki leaned back a bit, blinked a few times...
and then, suddenly, fell into a fit of giggles. Tamahome's face faulted, and he stared at the man in front of him as the laughter gained more power. Whatever Tamahome had said, Tasuki had found it extremely funny. He held his stomach giggling like crazy for almost a minute.
Finally, Tasuki managed to speak in-between his fit. "It... it's so stupid... I mean, it's no big deal..."
He fell into laughter again, staggering around a bit, and Tamahome watched him. It was now a determined fact in Tamahome's mind that Tasuki's true drunkenness was beginning to take effect. This meant it would be easy to extract information.
No big deal? Tasuki almost never acted unsure of himself at all, and to act unsure because of anyone else meant hail the next day*. Tasuki acted comfortable enough around Nuriko... how, Tamahome intended to find out... but whenever Nuriko mentioned his obsession with Hotohori, he would fault. In fact, it never failed, as he thought back now... Tasuki would look in another direction, acting like he didn't hear, or maybe get a silent, upset look on his face, not expressive enough to be noticed... Tamahome could barely remember his actions, they had seemed so insignificant. But they were there.
Tasuki had everyone fooled. He was being careful on purpose.
No big deal?
Not likely.
"Well, maybe, but still, c'mon! I wanna hear your side! I won't tell no one," Tamahome said.
Tasuki recovered from his laughing fit, and while taking the last chuckles, looked Tamahome up and down. He grinned, and shook his head.
"Ya thought gettin' me drunk would slipper up my tongue. Is that it, Tamahome?"
Before Tamahome could find a response, Tasuki did the unexpected. He giggled again.
"Ya promise?"
Tamahome blinked. "Huh?"
"Promise ya won't tell anyone. What I'm 'bout to tell ya."
Tamahome stared at him. Success had slapped him in the face, and it took a bit to recover from the stun. But, finally, after he had recovered:
"Of course, Tasuki. Your secret's safe with me."
He was startled to feel that he meant it. That was interesting... he had no intention of keeping Tasuki's little crush secret from everyone. He had wanted to tell Miaka, or maybe Chichiri... but for some reason, Tasuki's strange actions this whole time had a big impact on him.
So, I'll make it official.
"I promise."
Tasuki nodded, and started chuckling again.
"Well, ya got me. Nuriko's had my eyes on 'im since I first saw him."
Tasuki fell into a giggle fit again. He was so ridiculously drunk Tamahome overlooked the shock of the blunt revelation and found himself smiling along with Tasuki, even chuckling a bit.
Hell, I'm drunk, too. I'd better be careful, or I won't be able to remember everything I need to ask him!
Tasuki started walking while he talked, and Tamahome walked with him.
"Hehehe, but I mean, it's completely screwed up. See... I mean, I see a sexy 'nuff chick and I flip like nothin' else. Guys don't do nothin for me at all! But..." he laughed for a little while again before continuing. "I mean, I like Nuriko! And Nuriko's a guy! Hehehe, Doesn't look like a guy, doesn't act like a guy, but hell, the plain, simple truth is he's a man!"
He laughed again before slumping a bent elbow on top of Tamahome's shoulder. Between laughs, he managed, "Ya see what I'm sayin'?"
"Kind of," Tamahome replied, laughing a little himself. "You're bi?"
"Guess so," Tasuki grinned, before giggling some more. "Ya better watch out... who knows, I just might kiss more than your cheek some day!!" He looked mischievously at him, threatening.
"Gross, you pervert, that ain't even funny," Tamahome said while smiling like crazy, fending him off.
***
A few blocks down, It seemed Tasuki's drunk climax was over, and he was growing a little more serious. Suddenly, he spoke as they walked:
"Tamahome?"
"Mmm?"
"What's love like? I mean, bein' in love?"
Tamahome turned his head to him. Tasuki was still looking ahead of them.
"Why do you ask?"
"I wanna see if I... jus' wonderin," he said quickly, closing his eyes and sticking his nose into the air.
Tamahome half-smiled. "Well... It's like you've found another part of you."
He stopped, closed his eyes, and smiled as he tried to find words. He heard Tasuki stop and wait for him to speak more. He decided to not leave him waiting too long, and just speak as he thought it up.
"Whenever I'm with Miaka, I just feel... warm. Everything feels right when she's with me. And when she's not..." he sighed. "It hurts more than anything else. Like how I can't be with her now..." He looked at Tasuki, who was looking at him quizzically.
"Eh?" he said.
"... Weren't you paying attention in the bar?" Tamahome said in disbelief.
Tasuki rolled his eyes up, thinking. He remembered after some time. "Ohhh yeaaahh... ya know, I didn't even know about that myself until it came up tonight."
Great. "Well, if you think about it, It's kind of like your problem. I can't touch the woman I love, and you can't even tell your man."
"Whaddaya know, it is like you. 'Least Miaka knows."
Tamahome sighed, and they both started walking again. He wondered what it would be like if he had to bottle his feelings completely, like Tasuki was... to not even tell Miaka how he felt at all, keeping her completely oblivious. He spoke again.
"Love is weird. It hurts as much as it's wonderful. It gives you so much happiness, and then... turns it all around. I said Miaka was like a long lost part of me... if she's gone, it's like I've lost a part of myself. And if she's hurt..." he frowned as he remembered when he was in Kutou and heard Miaka was deathly ill.
"I feel pain. Like a knife... stabbing my heart. And it doesn't leave until I know for sure she's all right. If anything ever happened to her, I'm sure I'd never truly live again."
Tasuki stopped. Have I said too much? Tamahome wondered. We're both still drunk...He looked at Tasuki, and found an unreadable expression on his face.
"So that's love, huh?" he asked.
Tamahome rose an eyebrow. "Yeah. Best as I can say."
"Huh..." Tasuki closed his eyes, his head aiming down, and half-smiled. He shook his head slowly, as if to signify a lost cause.
"Whaddaya know."
Tamahome stared at him, but then smiled. He would keep this secret. He didn't want to risk spreading, and even Miaka was a risk. If it meant this much to Tasuki, he would keep it secret until he got enough guts to tell Nuriko personally... he might wind up keeping it forever. But he would keep it. Tasuki was his friend.
They walked on, and the palace gates were in sight. But right before they walked through, Tasuki spoke.
"I wonder..."
Tamahome looked at him. "What is it?"
"Nothin'." He paused. "I was just wondering... what I would do... if anything ever happened to Nuriko."
Tamahome blinked, and turned to stare at him.
"I mean... if he ever got hurt, or... or worse, I... I don't know if I'd be able to hold together."
He then slapped Tasuki's back, hard.
"OWW! What was that for?!" He shouted.
"Tasuki, you've had WAY too much to drink. You're speaking your feelings and going against your character! I think you need to hit the sack and prepare for a killer hangover. Besides..." he smiled. "Nothin' could ever happen to Nuriko. Hell, an entire pack of rabid wolves could attack him, and he'd just slap 'em down easily, with his strength, and have time to whine about getting too muscular. Don't worry!"
"Yeah," Tasuki said, rubbing his back with his hand. "I won't..." he dropped his hand. mmble mmble..."
"Eh?"
Tamahome found himself fried to a crisp.
"I said, REKKA SHINEN!!" Tasuki hollered, laughing. "That's whatcha get for hittin' me!!"
"Well, YOU'RE back to normal!! You're going down!! You'll be hurting from more than a hangover when I'M done with you!!"
Tasuki ran through the palace gates, laughing, and Tamahome followed, fists clenched, not knowing if he should just give in, and laugh too.
Tasuki had that effect on people.
His burns sure hurt, though...
*********************
YAAAATAAAA!! I finished! Sniff, Sniff... Tasuki asking what he would do if Nuriko died (for as we all know...)... Please Review and tell me what you thought!
PS: If this sounded kinda half-assed, it's 'cause I didn't go over the last half of it at all before posting it. I was kinda feeling weird, with all this stuff written and nothing posted, so I rushed it and didn't edit. Gomen!
I finally figured out where this might occur... soon after Miaka and Tamahome promise themselves to each other ("engaged," but not) but still can't touch one another.
I GOT IT!! It's the day after the festival. I'm pretty sure there's an extra day in there that we skip ("we'll be leaving in a week." **skips the days so the audience isn't bored to death**) It's also before it gets all depressing, what with Tamahome's family and all (and the drastic change in his personality...). Since this is in the middle of fact, I promise I shall change nothing.
That is, if I haven't already, and that extra day doesn't exist...
Enough talk! Let the madness continue!
An Interesting Revelation, part 2
Tamahome breathed in a great gulp of oxygen and let it out slowly and contentedly, ignoring any nausea for the time being while he melted into his hard wooden chair. His mind held everything one thought at a time (since more than one would overload him), and his vision was blurry on the edges from the incredible amount of alcohol he had just taken in. It definitely wasn't the right time now, it seemed, to talk about Tasuki; the two had run into some drinking buddies, and a heated contest (he didn't know HOW he had gotten talked into it) had ensued between himself and Saboro, a sixty-seven year man going on twenty, and the best drinker of them all. A legend among the bars, he could put away a hundred shots easily and not even begin to visibly waver until hundred-sixty... only God knows when his mind trouble began. But this was to be expected; when you've spent most your lifetime making your money doing something, it's logical to assume you're skilled at what you do.
Luckily for Tamahome, Saboro had been drinking for quite a while before, and was so out of reality at the time of the challenge he couldn't remember how much he had taken in already. He was out after fifty-two.
Tamahome considered himself lucky, as did the ten or so men currently present, although most were so caught up in it all they cheered like nothing else. His victory over the king wouldn't win him any big respect in the long run, but at least it won some respect from his buddies for now.
"WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOAAAAAHHH!!" Tasuki shrieked, flinging one bottle-filled hand up into the air while the other hand plopped down onto Tamahome's shoulder, seeming to know it would be a mistake to grapple him. "YA BEAT SABORO!! HOLY #@*&, YA ROCK, TAMAHOMIE!!"
"Damn fool challenged after THAT much drinkin'! Tamahome won fair and square if he's gettin' THAT cocky," another friend said. Putting his other hand onto Tamahome's unoccupied shoulder (Tasuki had forgotten his hand was still on his shoulder), he shook the guy in congratulations, making Tamahome's stomach jostle a little. "Congrats, man! You're gettin' easier at this!"
"Yeah, I'm not bad," Tamahome grinned, a little pride twinging at him. He was mostly happy about the money he had won, and was about to start counting it when the man continued.
"'Course, you're not gettin' easier at anythin' else."
Some giggling. A look of confusion spread across Tamahome's face.
"What's that mean?"
"Nothin'..."
That reply didn't stick for long. A different man was heard:
"Hell, boy, you mean to tell me that you've got a sugar of a fiancé like that and you STILL haven't got laid?"
The giggling increased. Tamahome felt his face redden a little, something that didn't happen too often around the guys.
"Wha... since when do I have a fiancé?!"
"Aw, cut the crap, Tama my man. Stuff about our little boy-brawler turned big spreads awful fast 'round here," one of the others said.
"So what's your excuse? You too nervous, 'zat it? 'Fraid you'll miss or somethin'?" An eruption of laughter rocked the walls of the tavern, and Tamahome frowned.
"How the hell d'you even know about that? Eh?"
"Boy, ya got virgin written all over your body!" one person replied, obviously not intending to tell him a real answer. More laughter.
Tamahome grunted. "Bullshit. For all you know I might be gettin' more than all of you put together. It wouldn't be too easy," he added in a bit of a slur.
This, to Tamahome's regret, only tensioned the atmosphere a bit, and the topic turned back to him stronger than ever. He felt himself get angrier as they spoke, the dangerous side of the alcohol surfacing at an unsafe pace. Tasuki, who still absently had his hand on Tamahome's shoulder, had been glancing towards the bar self-consciously every once and a while; two women were whispering and giggling, looking away quickly whenever he turned towards them, and then flashing their eyes at him as if to see if he was still looking. However, he felt the aggressive energy slowly gaining strength in the body beneath his hand, and he started to gain a little interest in what was going on in front of him. For once, a drunk Tasuki sat on the sidelines; he didn't say a word.
"Ya don't seem the type to be too noble when it comes to waitin' for the hitch..."
"Yeah, no kiddin'."
"Anyone who hangs out with us ain't too noble..."
"I still think he's nervous..."
"Maybe he can't, um... you know..."
A few men pondered on this, eyes traveling down, while Tasuki said "Ooooooooooo..." and backed away from Tamahome like he had a bomb strapped to him with ten seconds left on it. This was pretty much the case, as Tamahome was pissed, to say the least. He was about to get up and beat every person around him into a whimpering, bloody, pathetic excuse for a man, when a new, deep, husky voice slurred in:
"We know aaallllllll 'bout your marriage plans, Tamah'me."
Tamahome blinked in surprise, and saw that the figure sitting across from him had gotten out of its flumped-over position. Saboro was leaning back in his chair, looking at him with his glazed-over, yet somehow wise, eyes. He grinned at Tamahome and continued.
"Guezz yer not used to bein' this smashed," he said, eyeing Tamahome's clenched fists. "If ya were, yeh'd see they're all jus' pullin' yer chain. Actin' like fools 'n stuff, like they uzualy do. Stand down, men! Yer embarassin' the lad."
Some disappointed groans were heard, but they obeyed willingly enough; poking at Tamahome apparently had its moment and gotten old. Tamahome blinked again, seeing the sudden change in mood, and shook his head a bit to clear it. Oh well, he thought. We're all pretty out of it right now... better not hold anything against 'em.
"Tha's better," Saboro said, seeing Tamahome's withdraw. "Besides, you can't really blame 'em for teasin' ya 'bout this."
Tamahome tilted an eyebrow. "How do you know about that, anyways?" he asked.
Saboro's grin got even wider. "Aww, cum on, boy! Somethin' tha cute can't escape us! A Suzachu War'ur fallllls in luuuve with his prieztess. Idn't it romantic, fellas?"
An chorus of "awwwwwww"s, giggling, and honest laughter ensued, completely lifting the whole area into a much lighter, carefree atmosphere, taking Tamahome into it. By the time the noise died down, however, his hair was tousled to the maximum and his body ached a bit from all the elbowing. Plus, Tasuki, in the midst of all this, had snuck around to standing right behind Tamahome. Grinning like crazy, he had lifted him up off his chair in a bear hug (making him almost scream), yelled, "LEMME KISS THE GROOM!! C'MON, KISSIE KISSIEE!! SMOOCH DA GROOM!!" at the top of his lungs, and gave Tamahome a huge kiss on the cheek, turning up the sound effects for all to hear. Amidst all the laughter, Tasuki plopped him back down when he seriously started to struggle, and then fell back into the rest of the group, laughing like he usually did when he was drunk... kind of a cross between a hyena and himself.
Tamahome was beet red by that time. "I still don't get how you know about whether or not I had sex with her," he finally sighed. ***Neither do I! ---Saledis***
Saboro grinned. "C'mon, boys... lez back off. Whatev'r reasons he's got for not touchin' her, they mus' be good ones. Lez jus' enjoy the night, while it's still young!" he hollered out in conclusion. As quickly as the topic had been brought up, it was dropped. A cheer arose and filled the night, and a card game began.
***
Tamahome walked down the street at a sluggish pace, Tasuki almost bouncing along beside him, his body much more used to being intoxicated than Tamahome's. They had left the tavern laughing their goodbyes, and had continued laughing with each other for quite a while down the road; both of them had actually made some money that night at cards. But now, a blanket of silence had covered the two, to the point of being awkward.
Now, Tamahome thought, is the time. Maybe since he's so drunk it'll be easier.
He cleared his throat. "All right, Tasuki."
The redhead stopped dead in his tracks. Tamahome smiled to himself; he must have been waiting for this all night, preparing, and it still caught him off-guard. Tamahome kept walking and turned around to face him, since he made no move to turn around himself.
"Gimme the goods. It's been eatin' you up, right? Get it off your chest, man! Isn't 'listnin' to your problems' a requirement in the good buddy job description? C'mon, spit it out. I won't leave you alone until you do!"
With that, he leaned foreword and stared directly into Tasuki's face. Tasuki leaned back a bit, blinked a few times...
and then, suddenly, fell into a fit of giggles. Tamahome's face faulted, and he stared at the man in front of him as the laughter gained more power. Whatever Tamahome had said, Tasuki had found it extremely funny. He held his stomach giggling like crazy for almost a minute.
Finally, Tasuki managed to speak in-between his fit. "It... it's so stupid... I mean, it's no big deal..."
He fell into laughter again, staggering around a bit, and Tamahome watched him. It was now a determined fact in Tamahome's mind that Tasuki's true drunkenness was beginning to take effect. This meant it would be easy to extract information.
No big deal? Tasuki almost never acted unsure of himself at all, and to act unsure because of anyone else meant hail the next day*. Tasuki acted comfortable enough around Nuriko... how, Tamahome intended to find out... but whenever Nuriko mentioned his obsession with Hotohori, he would fault. In fact, it never failed, as he thought back now... Tasuki would look in another direction, acting like he didn't hear, or maybe get a silent, upset look on his face, not expressive enough to be noticed... Tamahome could barely remember his actions, they had seemed so insignificant. But they were there.
Tasuki had everyone fooled. He was being careful on purpose.
No big deal?
Not likely.
"Well, maybe, but still, c'mon! I wanna hear your side! I won't tell no one," Tamahome said.
Tasuki recovered from his laughing fit, and while taking the last chuckles, looked Tamahome up and down. He grinned, and shook his head.
"Ya thought gettin' me drunk would slipper up my tongue. Is that it, Tamahome?"
Before Tamahome could find a response, Tasuki did the unexpected. He giggled again.
"Ya promise?"
Tamahome blinked. "Huh?"
"Promise ya won't tell anyone. What I'm 'bout to tell ya."
Tamahome stared at him. Success had slapped him in the face, and it took a bit to recover from the stun. But, finally, after he had recovered:
"Of course, Tasuki. Your secret's safe with me."
He was startled to feel that he meant it. That was interesting... he had no intention of keeping Tasuki's little crush secret from everyone. He had wanted to tell Miaka, or maybe Chichiri... but for some reason, Tasuki's strange actions this whole time had a big impact on him.
So, I'll make it official.
"I promise."
Tasuki nodded, and started chuckling again.
"Well, ya got me. Nuriko's had my eyes on 'im since I first saw him."
Tasuki fell into a giggle fit again. He was so ridiculously drunk Tamahome overlooked the shock of the blunt revelation and found himself smiling along with Tasuki, even chuckling a bit.
Hell, I'm drunk, too. I'd better be careful, or I won't be able to remember everything I need to ask him!
Tasuki started walking while he talked, and Tamahome walked with him.
"Hehehe, but I mean, it's completely screwed up. See... I mean, I see a sexy 'nuff chick and I flip like nothin' else. Guys don't do nothin for me at all! But..." he laughed for a little while again before continuing. "I mean, I like Nuriko! And Nuriko's a guy! Hehehe, Doesn't look like a guy, doesn't act like a guy, but hell, the plain, simple truth is he's a man!"
He laughed again before slumping a bent elbow on top of Tamahome's shoulder. Between laughs, he managed, "Ya see what I'm sayin'?"
"Kind of," Tamahome replied, laughing a little himself. "You're bi?"
"Guess so," Tasuki grinned, before giggling some more. "Ya better watch out... who knows, I just might kiss more than your cheek some day!!" He looked mischievously at him, threatening.
"Gross, you pervert, that ain't even funny," Tamahome said while smiling like crazy, fending him off.
***
A few blocks down, It seemed Tasuki's drunk climax was over, and he was growing a little more serious. Suddenly, he spoke as they walked:
"Tamahome?"
"Mmm?"
"What's love like? I mean, bein' in love?"
Tamahome turned his head to him. Tasuki was still looking ahead of them.
"Why do you ask?"
"I wanna see if I... jus' wonderin," he said quickly, closing his eyes and sticking his nose into the air.
Tamahome half-smiled. "Well... It's like you've found another part of you."
He stopped, closed his eyes, and smiled as he tried to find words. He heard Tasuki stop and wait for him to speak more. He decided to not leave him waiting too long, and just speak as he thought it up.
"Whenever I'm with Miaka, I just feel... warm. Everything feels right when she's with me. And when she's not..." he sighed. "It hurts more than anything else. Like how I can't be with her now..." He looked at Tasuki, who was looking at him quizzically.
"Eh?" he said.
"... Weren't you paying attention in the bar?" Tamahome said in disbelief.
Tasuki rolled his eyes up, thinking. He remembered after some time. "Ohhh yeaaahh... ya know, I didn't even know about that myself until it came up tonight."
Great. "Well, if you think about it, It's kind of like your problem. I can't touch the woman I love, and you can't even tell your man."
"Whaddaya know, it is like you. 'Least Miaka knows."
Tamahome sighed, and they both started walking again. He wondered what it would be like if he had to bottle his feelings completely, like Tasuki was... to not even tell Miaka how he felt at all, keeping her completely oblivious. He spoke again.
"Love is weird. It hurts as much as it's wonderful. It gives you so much happiness, and then... turns it all around. I said Miaka was like a long lost part of me... if she's gone, it's like I've lost a part of myself. And if she's hurt..." he frowned as he remembered when he was in Kutou and heard Miaka was deathly ill.
"I feel pain. Like a knife... stabbing my heart. And it doesn't leave until I know for sure she's all right. If anything ever happened to her, I'm sure I'd never truly live again."
Tasuki stopped. Have I said too much? Tamahome wondered. We're both still drunk...He looked at Tasuki, and found an unreadable expression on his face.
"So that's love, huh?" he asked.
Tamahome rose an eyebrow. "Yeah. Best as I can say."
"Huh..." Tasuki closed his eyes, his head aiming down, and half-smiled. He shook his head slowly, as if to signify a lost cause.
"Whaddaya know."
Tamahome stared at him, but then smiled. He would keep this secret. He didn't want to risk spreading, and even Miaka was a risk. If it meant this much to Tasuki, he would keep it secret until he got enough guts to tell Nuriko personally... he might wind up keeping it forever. But he would keep it. Tasuki was his friend.
They walked on, and the palace gates were in sight. But right before they walked through, Tasuki spoke.
"I wonder..."
Tamahome looked at him. "What is it?"
"Nothin'." He paused. "I was just wondering... what I would do... if anything ever happened to Nuriko."
Tamahome blinked, and turned to stare at him.
"I mean... if he ever got hurt, or... or worse, I... I don't know if I'd be able to hold together."
He then slapped Tasuki's back, hard.
"OWW! What was that for?!" He shouted.
"Tasuki, you've had WAY too much to drink. You're speaking your feelings and going against your character! I think you need to hit the sack and prepare for a killer hangover. Besides..." he smiled. "Nothin' could ever happen to Nuriko. Hell, an entire pack of rabid wolves could attack him, and he'd just slap 'em down easily, with his strength, and have time to whine about getting too muscular. Don't worry!"
"Yeah," Tasuki said, rubbing his back with his hand. "I won't..." he dropped his hand. mmble mmble..."
"Eh?"
Tamahome found himself fried to a crisp.
"I said, REKKA SHINEN!!" Tasuki hollered, laughing. "That's whatcha get for hittin' me!!"
"Well, YOU'RE back to normal!! You're going down!! You'll be hurting from more than a hangover when I'M done with you!!"
Tasuki ran through the palace gates, laughing, and Tamahome followed, fists clenched, not knowing if he should just give in, and laugh too.
Tasuki had that effect on people.
His burns sure hurt, though...
*********************
YAAAATAAAA!! I finished! Sniff, Sniff... Tasuki asking what he would do if Nuriko died (for as we all know...)... Please Review and tell me what you thought!
PS: If this sounded kinda half-assed, it's 'cause I didn't go over the last half of it at all before posting it. I was kinda feeling weird, with all this stuff written and nothing posted, so I rushed it and didn't edit. Gomen!
