One Up
Chapter Two: A Taisho's Birthday, A Gensui's Problem
A/N: While I haven't been angsting lately, and the problem this ficceh was formed around is solved, I'm going to update it anyway, just because I really like the story. Hope you all do too! Everyone seems to really beh sympathizing with Tenpou here, and that makes meh happy, in that justifiable sort of way. But there's a lot more abuse for him before he gets his happy ending, I'm sad to say. Gomen Ten-chan.
And now some lyrics to set the mood:
Passion or coincidence
Once prompted you to say
"Pride will tear us both apart."
Duran Duran, Ordinary World
---
In an immortal place such as the Heavens, birthdays are of little importance. Except for the high-ranking officials and emperors, no one even celebrates them for the most part. Although Kenren celebrated it every year, mostly just as an excuse to get drunk and take a day off.
He always spent aforementioned days off in the same place. Which was odd, because he spent his days working there as well.
"I'm bored."
Tenpou looked at him warningly. "Don't you dare start that again."
He grinned. "But it's my birthday!" he mock-pouted.
The gensui returned his eyes to the papers he was reading. "So go get drunk."
Kenren leaned over his desk, looking up at his friend. "But it's no fun without you Ten-chan."
Tenpou didn't say anything.
"Besides," the general continued lightly, "why go out when it's –much- more fun to stay inside?"
"I'd ask you if you're implying something, but you always are, so there's really no point in asking." His eyes didn't leave the papers this time, refusing to meet the ones in front of him.
"Aw, you know me so well, I'm flattered," he smirked, and then snatched the papers off the desk.
"Kenren!" Tenpou snapped, diving after the documents as the general pulled them away.
The taisho waved them in front of him, just out of his reach. "C'mon gensui! You can work later! I don't know why you put up such a fight. You always give in by the end anyway…"
Tenpou stared at him coolly, despite the fact that he was still laying halfway over the desk. "Is that so?"
"Yep. "
He sighed in resignation. "If I agree to go out somewhere with you for a while, will you give back my papers and promise not to bother me?"
Kenren pretended to think about this. "Sure, why not? Tomorrow's open game again though."
Tenpou rolled his eyes. "I suppose that's the best I'm going to get."
Kenren leaned down, as close to Tenpou's face as he could get without touching. "If you're good, it might get a lot better."
---
Tenpou wished he had brought his work with him. It's not like he was doing anything right now anyway. When he had agreed to go out with Kenren for the afternoon, he had assumed that Kenren would actually talk to him or something. He –didn't- assume that Kenren would be bringing a guest. So now he sat there in one of the earth's darkest bars with his drink, watching the taisho flirt. And it was getting pretty damn annoying.
He had met the girl before. That didn't mean he wanted to see her again. As much as it wasn't her fault, Tenpou was angry with her the most. At least that was where he directed all the anger. He knew the real fault was in Kenren. Even so, he could blame Kenren all he wanted, but that didn't stop him from associating with the general. And it bothered him. If he was so mad at Kenren, why did he let Kenren into his office day after day, pretending nothing was wrong?
Tenpou stood. He was reading too far into this 'friends with benefits' thing.
"What's up?" the general tore his eyes away from the girl whose name Tenpou couldn't even remember.
'He probably can't either,' the gensui thought sharply. He looked at Kenren, forcing his eyes not to narrow in anger. "I'm going home."
"Are you sick? Maybe you shouldn't drink anymore?"
"Perhaps," Tenpou replied icily, moving past them and out the door.
Kenren blinked, watching him go. Since when do you use words like 'perhaps' when you're drunk?
---
Tenpou stormed down the hall, muttering to himself. What did it matter to him what Kenren did anyway? There wasn't anything romantic between them after all, and the general was perfectly allowed to fall al over anyone he so wished.
The gensui was more upset by his own feelings in the matter. If he knew there was nothing deep involved with them, why was he so angry when Kenren did things like this? He was acting like some jealous girlfriend. It wasn't as if he was actually developing feelings for the taisho…
…Was it?
Tenpou was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even see the person in front of him until he collided with them, sending both of them to the floor. Shaken from his reverie, he blinked, looking to see whom he had crashed into.
Gojun stood quickly, reaching to the floor and picking up the marshal's glasses where they had fallen. Handing them to their owner, he cleared his throat. "Are you alright?"
Tenpou replaced his glasses, pushing himself off the floor. "I'm fine. My apologies. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I didn't even see you."
"Quite alright," he smiled coolly, "You look upset, Tenpou Gensui. Is everything going well?"
The question took Tenpou by surprise for a moment; Gojun wasn't usually one for conversation, especially with anyone associated with Kenren. "I'm…just a bit angry with Kenren Taisho right now."
He nodded. "I can understand how working with him would make even the calmest angry."
"Like yourself?"
Gojun laughed once. "Mostly myself. I was just coming by your office to pick up some papers."
Tenpou sighed. "They're not quite ready, I'm afraid. I was torn from work a bit early."
"Not a problem. I have nothing else to do, so I can wait if you'd like."
The marshal wasn't used to Gojun being this talkative –or- friendly. "Um…if you want. It shouldn't take too long. You're welcome to wait in my office for them."
He started walking again. "I think I will."
Tenpou fell into step beside him.
---
"Oi gensui!" Kenren flung the door open, looking normal, if not a bit dishelved.
Tenpou and Gojun glared at him.
Kenren raised an eyebrow, standing in the doorway. "What's –he- doing here?"
"Waiting patiently for the papers I was supposed to give him this afternoon. Unfortunately I was preoccupied at a bar somewhere," Tenpou replied matter-of-factly.
"My bad, didn't mean to screw up your system or anything," he sat on the edge of the desk, scowling at Gojun.
"You're looking awfully…-intoxicated- today, taisho," the white-haired kami muttered.
"Don't start with me, Dragon-Boy, it's my day off." Kenren crossed his arms.
"How disrespectful."
"How annoying," the general shot back.
Tenpou focused totally on the pages in front of him, biting his bottom lip to keep from yelling at them. At Kenren for making him so angry and confused.
And at Gojun for making him feel better.
---
Another chappeh to the hungry crowd. And now your OMAKE!
Konzen: So you think it's aright to have a girlfriend and a boyfriend?
Kenren: Hell yeah! The more the merrier!
Tenpou: ::fume::
Goku: Ten-chan's mad at you Kenne-chan.
Gojun: ::rolls eyes:: Well, -that'- obvious…
Goku: No, that's Ten-chan. I dunno who obvious is.
Konzen: I think I do. ::glares at Goku::
Tenpou: ::slient treatment:: Baka. ::leaves::
Kenren: ::runs after him:: Hey, don't be like that!
Konzen: ::glares at Karu:: End it now.
---
Eep. End of chappeh two!
Me-Nuriko: At this point, I'm not sure -either- of them are aware. But I seem to have made Kenren kinda oblivious in this, huh?
Tora Macaw (Zell): Yep, I think you'd win that bet.
Elriel: He is, isn't he? And don't worry about Tenpou, he gets some revenge. A good couple needs a fight every now and then I think. Makes the good times look even better. But what do I know? ::sweatdrops::
C.T: It's a catch-22. Unless I can write from beyond the grave. Adn about 39, I've got some in here somewhere ::points to her head::, so I'll try to get some out for you guys.
kurisutaru39: ::smiles:: Just momentarily? I mark my ficcehs 'Gaiden' so they know which ones aren't as characterized. Cuz I dunno Gaiden that well. Not yet anyways... ::grins plotting::
Hmm...catch you next update!