Title: One Thing Led To Another (3/5)

Author: Lady Shinimegami

Pairings: Well let's see if I can list them all off. Tasuki/Nuriko (but that's only from the drunken frenzy), Tasuki/Kouji, Chichiri/Tasuki, Nuriko/Hotohori and I suppose it could go without mentioning, but Tamahome/Miaka (although I try to avoid them and their fish love…)

Warnings: Foul language (but of course, this is me after all), violence, TWT, I only hint at lemon.

Disclaimers: Sigh Ok, I admit it; I don't technically own Tasuki (but I still have him stashed away in my basement)… or the rest of these people.

Summary: 'Trying' to talk to Tasuki.

(Note: If a sentence is in italics (i.e. He left) then it's a memory.)

What's wrong?

"How so?" Tamahome asked, almost showing compassion towards the redhead.

"Huh?" Tasuki asked confused.

"Why has today been so bad?"

"Ya don't wanna know," he mumbled and attempted to walk away, but almost lost his balance, so Tamahome had to grab a hold of him again.

"Maybe I should take you to your room or something…"

"I don't need your fuckin' help," Tasuki barked at him

"Fine, fine, so why has it been such a bad day any way?"

"Didn't I already say that-" His voice trailed off as he spotted Nuriko sitting by the lake, and then saw Chichiri walk up to Nuriko and put his hand on Nuriko's shoulder in a comforting manner. "That… uh…"

"What's wrong?"

"You're holdin' on to my shoulder, that's what's wrong! Let the fuck go of me!" Tasuki yelled pulled away from him, Tamahome starred on a bit shocked, but let the redhead go, just happy that Tasuki was able to walk.

Curious to what suddenly pissed Tasuki off though, Tamahome turned around to see Nuriko and Chichiri sitting by the lake. Now why would that piss Tasuki off? Maybe he had gotten into a fight with the two, maybe that's why he was having a bad day.

He figured he'd go ask them. He walked over to them.

"Hello Tamahome-Kun," Chichiri greeted happily.

Nuriko didn't seem to notice either of the two Seishi there; he was so preoccupied in his thoughts.

"Hey. Ne, you guys wouldn't happen to know why Tas'ki's upset, would you?" Tamahome got right to the point.

Nuriko looked up at him, looking worried, confused and shocked at the same time, Tamahome wondered if he was more upset than Tasuki. He really wanted to know what the hell was going on.

"Tas'ki's upset?" Nuriko asked sounded very worried.

"Yeah… I bumped into him drunk. Why? What happened?"

Chichiri looked at Tamahome quietly, his eyes narrowed with worry.

"I should probably check on Tas'ki, no da. You two can talk things over," he said and then quickly walked off.

"So… what happened?" Tamahome asked sitting down.

"Tas'ki-Kun, no da!" Chichiri yelled once again banging on his door.

"GO AWAY!" Tasuki yelled… again.

"Let me in no da! I can tell you upset!"

"Well ain't you a fuckin' genius! Now piss off!"

"What's wrong Tas'ki-Kun?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong! What the fuck do ya think is wrong!" Tasuki yelled as he opened the door to stare at Chichiri.

"I don't know-"

"If you want to talk, take that fuckin' mask off!" He then left the door and went back to his bed, leaving the door open so Chichiri could come in. Chichiri did, and took his mask off as well.

The monk stared at him with a compassionate eye. Tasuki was undoubtedly drunk. The almost empty bottle of sake in front of Tasuki confirmed this. That explained some of his attitude. But what exactly was it that was bugging Tasuki so much?

"Tell me what's wrong, no da," he said calmly sitting down at a table.

"Like you'd fuckin' understand!" Tasuki yelled throwing his arms up, he couldn't sit still and was pacing around the room nervously. Why had he let Chichiri in? He didn't need him here…

"I can try, if you just told-"

"THERE AIN'T NOTHIN' TO TELL!" Chichiri almost jumped out of his chair at Tasuki's sudden outburst. This wasn't good, Tasuki was too drunk to control his temper, and he didn't exactly want to push his luck.

"Maybe I should come back later no da…" Chichiri said getting out of his seat.

Tasuki stared at the wall with clenched fist as Chichiri made his way to the door. He didn't want Chichiri to leave… not on bad terms anyway.

"There is something buggin' me…" Tasuki whispered quietly, but Chichiri heard.

"What is?" He asked softly turning around.

Tasuki turned to him; Chichiri could tell that something really big was bugging him, just by looking in his eyes. They were so intense… so sad. Had Tasuki been any other person they'd probably be in tears. That was what Chichiri would see in his eyes anyways.

"Ne…Kouji?"

"Ah…" Tasuki fumbled over his words trying to find the right ones.

"Yeah?"

"What is it Tas'ki-Kun?" Chichiri asked out of pure concern.

"Do ya love me?"

"I was wondering…"

"Yeah… ah love ya Tas'ki."

"I was wondering if…"

"Ah love ya too."

"Yes?"

"Uh…" Tasuki suddenly froze. What was he doing? There was so much alcohol in his system he just wasn't too sure anymore. "I think… I'm… gonna…"

And for the third time in 12 hours, Tasuki passed out, beyond inebriated. Chichiri was at his side in seconds catching Tasuki right before he hit the ground. He sighed in relief as he held the sleeping boy.

"Tasuki-Kun… what's bugging you so much?"

"So you two got really drunk and slept together?" Tamahome asked, his face a bit pale (well, actually it was very, very pale) but he was still trying to help. He was Nuriko's friend after all. "Well… ah… if you were drunk I can honestly say it didn't count."

Nuriko looked at him blankly.

"It counts no matter what," Nuriko said, looking back towards the lake.

"Obviously you didn't want to sleep with him, and I can tell you regret it."

"Could it be because I just told you that?"

"I'm not done yet," Tamahome said and Nuriko gave a little sigh. "Now, I think you and Tas'ki should talk this over."

"How can I talk it over with him?" Nuriko asked, almost pleaded.

"If you don't, things could get awkward. Do you really want to loose your friendship with him over this?"

"Well no-"

"Then I suggest that you talk with Tas'ki as soon as you can."

Nuriko slowly nodded, Tamahome was right, even if he didn't want to admit it. Tamahome was right.

"Fine…" Then he got up and started to walk back to his room wanting to get changed.

Tamahome fell back on the grass and let the breath out that he was holding.

"Miaka…"

(Looks like I'm getting this FanFic out faster than I first anticipated, and look, the chapter's longer! Go me go! Arigatou gozaimasu Carrie-Chan! Her help is definitely needed to write these things. Wow… I can't think of what else to say. I wonder if you guys have figured out what's bugging Tasuki, to be honest I'm quiet clear about it - SonyMouse knows! - Well, more questions. I get a new question every chapter, and I can say with confidence, this is the only important one so far. Did I mention that this story does not fit into the Fushigi Yuugi time line at all? I wasn't thinking of where it might fit in when I began writing it, so it's now my own A/U. I guess you guys can use your imagination to think of where it could fit in. I'm lost for ideas anyway. Feel free to leave very long reviews, I read them, they're my motivation to write my stories faster. Arigatou to Sayonara)

Edit: One thing I made a strong point of changing was all the Japanese I used in this fic. Every other word I had in Japanese, I don't know why, but it's all English now. Except for 'ne', which means 'hey', but sounds better. Also, sometimes it's written 'Tasuki' and sometimes it's written 'Tas'ki', well I really didn't feel like cleaning all of that up, so I'll just explain it: 'Tasuki' is pronounced 'Tas'ki', so in some of their dialogue I'd write 'Tasuki' as they'd say it: 'Tas'ki'