This is taking a long time. Sorry.

Taka felt a little bad about driving Suboshi out of the room. A college party would be the worst place for someone whose greatest social skill was not randomly slaughtering people. Well, one of the worst places. Plus he had bitten his own nose to spite his face; Taka had wanted to go to the party. Now he was stuck in his room until Suboshi came back or lost it and killed someone. The thought upset Taka. He would hate for one of his friends to get hurt because he had wanted to make a point about the room being his. He'd even feel bad if it was just some innocent freshman. It wasn't his fault, of course. He hadn't been the one to inflict Suboshi on the world. No, he'd just sent him out of the room. Into a hall filled with innocent people.

Filled with. Taka remembered just how many people had been at the party last year. If he went, he'd probably not see his roommate at all. With so many people, they would have no problem missing each other, especially if they were trying to do so. Taka stepped from his room into the party certain he could avoid Suboshi. And if anything happened he could…do…something. Taka stopped suddenly, letting the guy behind him walk right into him. He ignored the angry looks as he wondered just what he could do.

For the first time in this life, Taka wondered how he had killed someone. He vaguely remembered that he had, but not how. Would he still be able to kill Suboshi if anything happened? Another question worried him even more. Would he be able psychologically to take another human life? Involuntarily he pictured the boy playing the flute in his room. He didn't think so. But then the boy's eyes opened and his face was splashed with drying blood. And Taka thought he could kill him.

Taka drifted through the sea of people, talking to a few old friends and making some new ones. He was thoroughly enjoying himself when he caught sight of his roommate sitting in the corner. He was about to sneak off when he saw that the boy wasn't alone. He was glaring up at an older student, possibly a sophomore but more likely a junior by Taka's estimation. They were obviously not getting along. Taka felt a rush of worry return as he tried to figure out just what he really could do if Suboshi lost it. How much of his Seishi power was still his? How much had Suboshi maintained? Taka sighed realizing all he could do was try to separate them before any slaughtering occurred. Allowing his anger with Suboshi to show, he approached them and roughly laid his hand on Suboshi's shoulder.

"Hey Freshman! You left a mess in my room. Clean it up." Suboshi had started at the contact and then stared at Taka in shock. The open-mouthed, wide-eyed look of incomprehension lasted only a minute. He took off so fast Taka was almost certain he was back in their room before he'd had a chance to turn to the other student. Taka rolled his eyes. "Freshmen."

The older student's face also reflected a vaguely confused look. But traces of amusement filled his eyes and an irritatingly familiar smile twisted his lips. "Freshmen indeed."

Taka studied the other student, wondering if they had had a class together and if he'd be expected to remember a name. Whoever he was, he did not mind being studied. He was himself studying Taka with a bit more interest.

"You could come back to my room if you want to see more." It took Taka several seconds to understand the offer.

"Oh! No. It's just that you look familiar." Taka stammered out his response.

"Where have I heard that before?" Taka felt himself blushing and looked away.

"I have a girlfriend." He blurted. The other student laughed.

"Oh Brad, I could show you more than Janet ever could." Taka blinked, confused.

"I'm not Brad." Now it was the other man's turn to sigh and roll his eyes.

"I know who you are, Tamahome. I was only teasing you." With a last look that sent messages Taka didn't want to think about, he slipped away into the mass of partying college kids.

So disturbed was Taka by that look that nearly a full minute passed before he realized what he had been called. Tamahome. Only Miaka had ever called him that in this life. And now this strange and familiar…. Taka suddenly knew who he'd been talking too and the knowledge chilled hid blood. Tomo. He had just saved Tomo from Suboshi. Taka recalled the discomfort of his roommate and another thought struck him. He might have just saved Suboshi from Tomo.

*******

Brad and Janet are from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If Tomo were around today, he would definitely be a fan.

(Tomo prances by singing "Sweet Transvestite)

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