Running Away

Chapter 13

It had been a week since it happened. He hadn't told anybody what had really happened… just said that some guys had attacked him…

He couldn't remember that much about it either, at least, after the men had attacked him. He could still remember how it felt… the rancid taste of the other man's mouth on his… but, how had he gotten away? He knew… knew that someone had saved him. He tried to remember the face, the voice, but it was all so faint…

He shrugged it off, returning back to the present. He looked around and noticed the many faces that were staring at him. Oh great, did I space off again in the middle of talking to them? They're gonna' think I'm really sick or somethin'…

"Hehe… what did you say?" Tasuki tried laughing it off.

The other men just sighed, shaking their heads. "Man boss, are you okay? I mean, that has to be the sixth time today!"

"Really, I'm just fine… I have a lot on my mind is all." Tasuki tried explaining, but none of the men really seemed to believe him.

Kouji walked up to him, resting his hand on Tasuki's forehead. "Hmm… you don't have a fever or anything."

Tasuki sat back. "I told you there's nothing wrong with me. I'm just… confused, you know?"

"Well, what do you expect? When Seripa found you, you were completely konked out, so who knows what happened?"

Tasuki nodded, looking down at the ground. Kouji just looked over him, a rather stern look on his face, but he didn't say anything. He knew that there was something that Genrou wasn't telling him.

"Anyways… why don't you and I head on up ta' bed, eh Genrou? It'll do ya' good."

Tasuki looked up at Kouji, and then finally nodded in agreement. He let the other man help him to his feet and then with a quick wave to his fellow bandits, he followed Kouji out the door.

They walked briskly across the compound to their bedroom, as the night was beginning to become chilly. Their feet barely made any sound at all on the grass.

Kouji reached the room first, and he clicked on the light as he stepped in. He yawned, stretching his arms above his head as Tasuki joined him in the room.

Unbeknownst to the pair, another pair of eyes was watching them.

*Outside*

"Daaa… I was wondering when they were finally going to come." Chichiri sighed, looking in across the window at the two bandits. It always made him feel better to see Tasuki, even if it was from a distance.

Chichiri positioned himself in a more comfortable position and then resumed watching the two. He tried to make the most of what their actions were, since that was all he had to go by as to what they were saying.

*Back in the Room*

Tasuki sat down on his bed, pulling his boots off and giving them a toss to the other side of the room. He had gotten tired of putting them back neatly every night.

He then looked up, noticing that Kouji was staring at him.

"What are you lookin' at?" Tasuki gave him a questioning look.

Kouji crossed his arms in front of him. "I know there's somethin' you're not tellin' me, Genrou. About last week…"

Tasuki immediately looked down, acting as though he had a sudden interest in his feet. "Look Kouji, really… it's nothin'… we should just forget it, kay?"

Kouji sat down beside Tasuki on the bed, still that stern look on his face. "You're not the kind to hide stuff like this, Genrou. You can tell me, you know you can…"

Tasuki looked the other way, trying to avoid his eyes. He couldn't… just couldn't…

"Genrou…"

"I'm sorry Kouji… it's just… I can't, I mean, there's no reason to anyway." Tasuki stated firmly, hoping his friend would back off.

Kouji adruptly stood up, standing right in front of Tasuki. "Sure, I find you completely out of it in your bed, then you start walkin' around like a living zombie, and now you won't even tell me what happened! That's no reason to talk about it, huh? Genrou!"

Tasuki looked up angry, tears starting to form in his eyes. "Okay fine! I was almost raped by these bunch of guys, is that what you wanted to hear?!" Tasuki flung himself down on his bed, tears now pouring freely from his eyes.

All the fire left Kouji's face as he looked down at Tasuki, taking in the words he had just heard. "G… Genrou…"

He sat down beside Tasuki, not knowing what to say at first. I mean, what do you say after you learn something like that?

"Genrou, it's… it's okay…" He brought his hand gently to touch Tasuki's back, which was still shuddering from his outburst. He softly began to rub it back and forth, trying to reassure the other man.

"Genrou… look at me."

Tasuki turned around so he was lying on his back and wiped the tears out of his eyes. He looked up at Kouji, who looked at him with a smile.

Kouji gently leaned in closer to Tasuki, bringing his hand up to the side of Tasuki's face. "It's… everything's fine now, okay? You have nothing to be worried about… to be ashamed about…"

Tasuki's eyes opened wide as Kouji leaned in closely, bringing his lips to touch his. He felt himself being pushed back into the pillow as Kouji brought his hands around his neck.

*Outside*

Chichiri couldn't believe what he was seeing. He kept staring, and staring, not being able to look away.

"No… no…" he whispered it over and over again, hoping that saying it would make everything better again. But no, they were still there, still there…

Tasuki… how… how could you?! You never told me… never told me, and yet… how could you!?!

Millions of questions swirled around in his mind until they all became one jumbled up mess. He felt as if his whole life had come crashing down, had been destroyed. Everything was gone now… everything!

Tasuki… Tasuki had meant everything to him. Tasuki had been everything. But now… but now…

Did I ever really mean anything to him? Was he just fooling, just trying to get some fun in while he was away? Was this going on all along…?

Tasuki wouldn't do that… would he? But if he wouldn't, then what's this that I'm seeing right now?

He closed his eyes, tears beginning to run down his face. He brought his hands up, covering his face in them. "Tasuki… why oh why… why!?!"

His life had just disappeared. Everything he cared for was now gone, taken away by somebody else.

He stood up in the tree, not caring that he hit his head on a few branches, and then teleported away, far away. He didn't need to see any more.

*Back in the Room*

Kouji pushed harder against Tasuki's lips, his arms wrapped tightly around his neck. He moved his mouth, slowly pushing his tongue between his lips, feeling around the inside of his mouth.

He opened his eyes, looking into Tasuki's face, and was surprised to find small tears slowly falling out of his eyes.

Tasuki had his eyes closed tightly, and tear-stains were starting to form across his cheeks. He was soflty wimpering, his body shaking.

Kouji moved back a little, looking worridly into Tasuki's face.

"Chi… Chichiri…"

His voice was so tiny Kouji could barely hear it, but he could recognize the name. Chichiri… the monk that had travled around with Tasuki. One of the Suzaku seven.

Kouji backed away into a sitting position, looking sadly down at the other man on the bed.

No… he can't… he just can't love someone else… I, I've known him too long, loved him too long. This can't be happening, not now… not ever…

Tears began running down his face as he clenched his the cloth of his pants tightly in his fists. He adruptly stood up, turning his head away from Tasuki.

"I… I'm sorry, Genrou!!" He didn't look back, couldn't look back. He ran out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Tasuki still lay there, tears still falling steadily from his eyes. He wrapped his arms up around his pillow, holding it tightly against himself.

"Tasuki-kun, no da!! You really shouldn't sleep so long!" Tasuki smiled as he drifted off into his dream, where he knew that things would always be right.