I do not own FY, I do own this fic and Karen…and yea, cookies. Not every single one-but I love the ones I got! -munch-

A Sweet Tooth

Karen searched frantically within the castle walls for Tasuki but he seemed to just disappear. "Have you seen Tasuki?" she asked a few of the servants. Finally, Mitsukake helped her a bit.

"I saw him walking out of the palace walls about ten minutes ago."

"Thanks so much!" she ran outside and of course, Sunday traffic! Where everyone crazy in the world has to be scattering around like no one's business! They just -have- to be in her way! At every opportunity!

She cursed traffic, even if there weren't cars in it. She'd never find Tasuki in it!

After a while of searching, she found the tavern they had spent the night at. Walking it, she caught glimpse of the waiter and smiled, "Hello, sir?" he looked at her.

Smiling a bit, "Hello Young Lady, where is your husband?"

"Husband?" she seemed to be in deep thought, 'He must mean Tasuki!' She sighed, "I don't know…I was wishing you had seen him lately?"

"Oh, I thought you two were here together." the waiter walked her to the table he was sitting at.

She thanked him quietly and took a seat across from Tasuki, "Listen 'ere pal, ain't in no mood for talk."

She rolled her eyes, "Perhaps just a small chitchat?"

He turned around quickly in his chair from his slouched position and looked at her, "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged, "I came to find you. You didn't even tell anyone you were leaving."

"I don't have to have people know where I am all the time." he countered.

She threw her hands up in the air in surrender, "Whoa now, I was just letting you know that you were thought of." She paused, "Sides, you didn't even say goodbye."

Tasuki's eyes searched hers, "Karen?"

"Yea?" she looked at him as if she, too, were searching for an answer.

"Why did you come here?"

"I found it. I heard that someone saw you exit the palace walls…and I came to look for you and stumbled upon this place again."

"No, why did you come to this time. This place." he corrected his previous question.

Karen looked hurt and he inwardly cursed himself. "I…"

"You had to want to escape something. Find something about yourself interesting?" he suggested.

Karen frowned, "I…" she couldn't bring herself to tell Tasuki.

"Nevermind, forget I asked." he muttered, crossing his arms, "Why are you still here?"

"I don't know."

"So you don't know why you came here and you don't know why you're still here. Full of information, huh?" he was being an asshole, he knew it. But…he needed to know, to fill his own wounds with salve.

Karen's shoulders sagged a bit as his words bit into the truth in her mind. And heart. "I'm sorry."

Tasuki felt like a bigger ass. If it was going to hurt her, he could live his entire life with wondering "what ifs." "Don't answer that." he muttered and stood up.

She instantly grabbed his hand, catching his attention. He looked down at her, her eyes hooded, "Please. Sit down."

He sat down as if he didn't have a choice. Looking at her, expecting something of a woman to say "I'm sorry" again…she did the exact opposite.

"When I was six, my father got drunk and killed my mother and himself while I watched." Tasuki had no idea, he didn't even want that idea, he was ashamed he had asked. He went to say something and she shook her head, "You wanted to know what I've been running from, so here's your answer." she looked up at him, no emotion in her eyes, "Even Miaka doesn't know about my past. She thinks the parents I live with are my biological ones. My parents now aren't much better than having none." she looked away, "Both drinkers, it's bound to happen again."

'No wonder she doesn't like drinking.' he felt lower than anything under his feet.

"Ya know, I don't need to hear none of this." he muttered.

"That's a double negative." she sighed, trying her best to lighten the mood, "But to be truthful…"

He looked away when her eyes met his.

"You're probably the only guy that I've trusted in my life."

Tasuki's eyes shot wide as he turned to her quickly, "Don't ya have a brother or something?"

"No."

"A friend?"

"No."

"A dog? Come on, some kind of male around…"

"No." she shrugged, "I basically exiled myself away from them since I met my adoptive parents. My "father" isn't exactly the best in the world."

Tasuki shook his head, "All kids feel that way about their parents."

"Not to this extent."

Tasuki held his tongue. He didn't want to know. Well, in truth, he did, but he could never ask. "And what about the rest of us?"

Karen fiddled with her kimono sash and sighed, "At first, I was pretty afraid."

"Hid it well enough, didn't you?"

Karen smirked some, "I can talk to them, I just don't like to be confined with one alone, anywhere."

"That cell must have been hell for you then." Tasuki brought up the worst part of her memories within Konan.

"A bit." Karen confused him, she knew it. She saw it in his features, "At first, if it had been when I first arrived, I would have died from fear." she might have been exaggerating but from what's been going on lately, she might not have been. "But because of the night before, I didn't really think you'd hurt me."

Tasuki thought a moment, "And the inn?"

Karen closed her eyes, "I'll admit it, threats to my body and life were flashing through my mind but I think they were pretty harnessed because of the feeling of being different in this world, where no one understood me at all."

Tasuki thought it best to change the subject, she was getting upset. He could tell from her heavier breathing and when she opened her eyes, it was oh so clear.

"The swimming lessons were helpful. I can go about ten feet now." he jested.

Karen smiled then. He always felt better when she was happy, content, or just not distressed. "I'm glad to hear that."

Tasuki cleared his throat a bit as the waiter brought Karen a water. "I assume since you ordered it the other night, it would be fine again?"

"Yes, thank you." Karen smiled up at the waiter. "I was getting parched."

The waiter nodded a bit and looked over to Tasuki, "You allowing your wife to read, write, and speak right may be the beginning of a new era." he walked off.

Tasuki and Karen blinked and looked at each other and busted out laughing. "Wife?!" Tasuki's fangs were glimmering as Karen snorted a bit.

"Yea right! Not even a week into a friendship and we're already married!" she covered her mouth.

After the small laughing spree, Tasuki and Karen became sober again. "Now…where were we, oh yes, and why are you at the inn again?"

Karen gasped, "Oh yea! I was looking for you, remember?"

"For?"

"Uhm…I was hoping you could tell me that, actually." Karen said and sipped her water.

"I'm no mind reader." he mumbled and pushed his beer away to the side in respect for Karen.

She had a feeling that -that was probably the biggest sacrifice Tasuki could ever make for a girl. Well, minus going to her world…

"Yea, I know, I was just wondering if you had anything to say before I left. I want to get my goodbyes going…" she lied a bit, she wanted to hear how he felt. She knew he had to at least feel something, friendship even. She'd settle for that. She didn't want to, but hey, whoever is picky now is shit out of luck. "I really wanted to see you before I left." she admitted.

Tasuki folded his hands as if he were a businessman and took a breath in, "What's so good about your world?"

That wasn't what she was expecting. A question for a goodbye? "It's…well, it-" she paused and thought a moment, "I can't really say it's home, huh? Since mine is in shambles."

Tasuki watched her as she thought, "It wasn't supposed to be a stumper."

Karen smiled some, "Well it is. Why do you ask?"

"Well, if you didn't have anything to go back to and if there was a way, I'm sure we could find a way for you to stay here in Konan." he paused, "If that's what you wanted."

Karen looked down, "I don't have a reason to stay either."

Tasuki felt her words slice into his heart. He might have fried billions of enemies with his enchanted harison, but he was sure nothing was worse than hearing those words from Karen.

"But you don't have a real reason to go back, neither…right?"

Karen laughed a bit, "Sides Miaka, not really. And she's got Taka and Yui, Keisuke and Tetsuya…Mayo, you know, all the others." she frowned, "I guess I should just roam around space, I don't really have a place to call home."

Tasuki smirked, "I got an idea."

"Hmm?" she looked at him.

"You come to my pad tonight and I'll show you what a home is really supposed to be like." he smirked.

"I'm not going to your house." Karen almost choked on her words.

"It's not anything like that." Tasuki brushed his hand in the air as if erasing her words, "The bandits and all, we'll show you a good time and not one of us will lay even a glance on you if you don't want it." he was being sincere, she knew it. He continued, "I'll show you a sight that makes anyone feel like they belong."

Karen lifted a brow, "And no funny stuff?"

"Nope. Just a night. And I even got myself a guest room." Tasuki smirked.

Karen smiled at his thoughtfulness, who would have guessed the most ill-mannered of the Seishi, or so it seemed, would be such a gentleman?

"Alright. One night. I'd like to keep away from what I'm going back to for a night longer." she nodded.

"It's a deal then." Tasuki smirked and put out his hand.

"Deal?"

"If I show you a place you belong, you should at least try to stay. If I can't, well, then you can go and forget all about Konan and us."

Karen snickered and took his hand, "I doubt that'll be possible." when she shook his hand, she nodded, "Deal."

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So, Tasuki is gonna show Karen a good time…hmmmm

kage1586