Title: One Thing Led To Another (5/5)
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: Tasuki kinda loses it and the story comes to a close.
Troubled Little Mind
Nuriko needed to find Tasuki and he needed to find him now. What he would say? He wasn't too sure, but they had to talk. Bad things happened when you did something like this and then just stopped talking to the person. Worst-case scenario, Tasuki might even hate him right now. They were such good friends… he didn't want anything like this to make them be further apart, or just basically far apart.
He got to Tasuki's room and as he walked in, he found a confused looking monk sitting by Tasuki's bed. Tasuki was nowhere to be seen. He almost turned around and left, when he made a notable observation. Chichiri wasn't wearing his mask, and he looked rather sad.
"Nuriko-Kun," Chichiri mumbled softly in a low voice, not even bothering to look up. "Are you looking for Tasuki?"
Nuriko smiled in a poor attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah… have you seen him around?"
"What's going on between you two?"
Nuriko stood there silently, now taking on the confused look himself. A thought entered his mind, and he almost dismissed it, until Chichiri kept talking.
"I know you were drunk… but even when you are drunk, the things you do aren't a complete mistake. I know you two are close… so-"
"No." Nuriko quickly cut in before he could talk anymore, Chichiri finally looked up at him. "We're good friends… maybe even best friends… but no, there's nothing between us."
The two looked on in a silent understanding, also, a common knowledge. They both knew what it was to love someone, and never get loved back. That's why Nuriko had been drinking so much the night before after all.
"Do you love him?" The question came out and they weren't sure how long it had taken to break the silence, it had felt like an eternity, and yet, it was still dark outside.
"I… y-yes…" And before anymore could be said Nuriko was across the room hugging him, Chichiri looked up at the boy in a bit of shock and then smiled. "I guess this comforting thing goes both ways," he mumbled out, his voice still a bit shaky.
"Hey, that's what friends are for."
It was then when Nuriko realized just how much this whole situation might have affected everyone… not to say that anybody else was in love with Tasuki, or him for that matter, but there might be people who were bugged by the fact. He also just wanted to clear things up with Hotohori…
But, first thing's first, he had to find Tasuki, but right now he couldn't. Not while Chichiri was feeling down. Damn… there was just so much to do. Suddenly Nuriko just felt so overwhelmed and it wasn't long before they were hugging each other in comfort.
It's odd how a scene can look so different when you can't hear what they're saying.
There Tasuki was walking ever so quickly away from his room through the field when he saw Nuriko walking on the hall in the other direction. He had to talk to him, so of course he turned around and went after him.
He didn't walk as fast, because he saw Nuriko go into his room. He'd probably stop and talk with Chichiri. He could just grab Nuriko and drag him outside. There they could talk. However… when he got to his window, he saw them hugging.
What's in a hug anyway? They don't matter they're just friendly, a friend thing. Yet, they were both hugging each other… almost like a lovers embrace.
Tasuki felt the blood drain from his head, and pretty much his brain stopped his rational thinking right there, and went over everything since last night. Chichiri had found him, and Chichiri had gone in there after he left… he heard the door shut and when he turned to look, Chichiri was inside.
So what did that mean? What did any of this mean? What the hell was going on?
Five seconds later Tasuki was in the room. In the back of his head he was kinda laughing. He was truly always rushing into things without thinking; he was hotheaded and ignored the consequences.
"NURIKO!"
Chichiri and Nuriko spun their heads around, their embrace cut off, and both stood on their feet thinking danger was afoot. As they looked into Tasuki's eyes, they both got a very similar sinking feeling. If looks could kill, Nuriko was sure he'd be dead right now. The first thought to enter his mind was something like: "He hates me, oh Suzaku, he hates me because we slept together."
"Tas'ki-Kun, what's wrong no da?" Chichiri quickly brought himself into this out of pure fear for Nuriko, and Tasuki's life. He knew full well Tasuki wouldn't stand that long against Nuriko, especially if they were talking fistfight.
"What's wrong?" Tasuki looked over to Chichiri, his eyes softening only a bit before he gave an almost cruel smile. "Everything."
"Then let's talk about it!" Tasuki ran towards Nuriko with a yell, his vision and judgment blocked by his hate, cutting off Chichiri's voice. His resentment. His jealously. His love.
Tasuki kicked at Nuriko's chest and Nuriko put his arms up in an 'X' shape to block the attack, the blow still pushed him back and into Chichiri's arms.
"TAS'KI!" Chichiri attempted to get the teen to listen, but to no avail.
"Have you lost it?" Nuriko asked, his arms lowered waiting for another attack, Tasuki waiting patiently to give one.
Again Tasuki charged, this time with a roundhouse kick, only this time Nuriko grabbed his ankle. Tasuki struggled to free his foot for a few second before Nuriko pulled back and Tasuki lost balance and fell to the floor.
"Tas'ki calm do-" Tasuki put his arms behind his head and arched his back, his legs went up from under him hitting Nuriko in the jaw. Tasuki flipped in the air, Nuriko fell back onto Chichiri again, blood coming from his mouth this time.
Chichiri put his arms around Nuriko to support his shock and anger in his eye. Something was pushing Tasuki and something else was holding Nuriko back. And then he felt some of Nuriko's blood fall onto his hand, just a small trickle, but enough to completely piss him off.
Something was terribly wrong.
Nuriko got on his feet and found himself being pushed aside by Chichiri, the push came by surprise and he fell onto the bed. He was about to get up but a bright red light stopped him. Chichiri had both hands up in an attack, one hand holding his prayer beads up, the other facing Tasuki. For a brief second Nuriko thought Chichiri might really hurt Tasuki, if Tasuki had lost it, then why not Chichiri as well?
The light pushed Tasuki back against the wall and with a small cry of pain he fell to the ground. Nuriko was by Chichiri's side and both waited for Tasuki to get up again. Wild thoughts rampaged through their heads, what if he was being controlled like Tamahome had once? But Tasuki didn't get up again; he just sat there against the wall with his head lowered. Had he been knocked out?
"Shit…" Tasuki silently whispered, his hand went up to his face brushing away the tears that were slowly making their way down his face. Then his face was burrowed in both hands and he was leaning over a bit, crying, really crying. "I'm sorry… I… I don' know… sorry…" His words came out choked.
"Tas'ki-Kun…" Chichiri called out taking a step forward. Tasuki was on his feet then, only running out the door this time. "Tas'ki! Wait!"
Chichiri and Nuriko were chasing after him across the field and towards the lake. Tasuki could see the lake, and yet he didn't. His mind was split in two ways, he was seeing a lot more clearly in one side of his mind then the other. The second he got to the edge of the lake he reeled back in fear not wanting to fall in, but a small voice inside him told him to jump. The water was deep there… he couldn't swim.
"TAS'KI!"
He might have jumped right then… but then someone grabbed him from behind and spun him around. He still hadn't stopped crying. Chichiri and Nuriko didn't look mad, they looked worried, and they looked confused.
"I…" He could feel his knees give out and was on the ground, he didn't even notice it either. "I meant all that I said to Kouji… really, I did… but things change. People change. Feelings changed. I changed," he looked up at Chichiri in an almost pleading way. "I'm so confused…"
Not too sure what Tasuki was talking about, and knowing he didn't really have to, Chichiri got down on his knees as well and embraced him as hard as he could in a gentle way. Tasuki opened his eyes in shock, and then they closed a bit, a smile almost on his face. He wanted to forget everything, and just stay like that forever.
"Tas'ki-Kun… don't be scared. Life gets this way no da. But you will always have friends… we're here for you Tas'ki no da. I'm here for you Tas'ki."
Nuriko put his hand on Tasuki's shoulder. He forgave him, for now. Whatever Tasuki was going through, it had to be hard if he just lost it all of the sudden. Of course, the second this was all over he'd have to beat Tasuki up for making his mouth bleed like that, all over his favourite shirt too.
≈
"I'm listening," Chichiri said softly, sitting down in Tasuki's room next to the redhead. His mask was still not on.
The two sat at his table facing each other, a bottle of sake between them. Tasuki poured a glass.
"Right," he whispered, knowing that he was supposed to start speaking, but had no idea where to begin.
"That a good idea?" Chichiri nodded towards the sake.
"It ain't a bad one," he poured a glass for Chichiri as well, and the monk tentatively took it. "Helps me talk."
"Should we start with Nuriko or Kouji?"
Tasuki stared at his glass for a moment before taking a sip. "I was drunk when I slept with Nuriko. I don't even remember it happenin'."
"I know," Chichiri took a sip of his sake. "And when you tried to kill Nuriko?"
"I didn't try ta kill Nuriko!" Tasuki put his glass on the table, almost slamming it down. Tasuki expected Chichiri to jump at his outburst, but he remained silent, unmoving.
"So what did you try to do?"
"If I told you that… If I…" Because I was afraid. Because I was confused.
"I'm not judging you Tasuki, I just want to understand."
Because I was angry.
"You're my friend Tasuki. We're all your friend. We all love you."
Because I love you.
"I thought I was in love," Tasuki's voice came out like a whisper, but Chichiri still heard him. "But that didn't stop me from leaving him…"
Chichiri felt cold for a moment. "Kouji?"
"But I don't think I do love him anymore… And I'm terrified," he looked up at Chichiri. "And I never know how to react… I got drunk, I got stupid, I slept with Nuriko because I missed Kouji so much."
"But… why don't you think you love Kourji anymore?"
"Because…" He looked at Chichiri intently. "Because I'm in love with you."
Chichiri didn't realize he had chugged his sake until he saw his hand reaching out for the bottle.
"Sorry, what?" He poured himself another glass, and then began to drink from the bottle.
Tasuki dug his forehead into his hand. "I'm in love with you, and I was confused… I still am confused. And when I saw you two together… Everything that's been goin' through my head for the last few days just exploded."
Chichiri noticed that the bottle was almost empty. How had that happened? "You that's why you attacked Nuriko." Everything seemed to click into place, except for Tasuki had said about love. What was that again?
Tasuki finished his glass of sake and grabbed Chichiri's abandoned glass, chugging it down.
"Wow." Tasuki sighed, the fog lifted from his head. "It feels nice sayin' this."
He looked up at Chichiri, the sadness still in his eyes. "I am really in love with you. You're nothing' like me… nothin' like Kouji… and yet you're all I can think about."
The silence in the room seemed to wrap around them.
Tasuki almost laughed. "I'm a pretty terrible person."
"No," Chichiri almost jumped up, he grabbed Tasuki's hand. "No, you're not."
"Then what I am?"
Chichiri squeezed his hand. "You're wonderful."
"Chichiri, I-"
Chichiri stood up. "You need to get some sleep."
"What happens tomorrow?"
"Nothing," he smiled warmly. "Nothing can happen until you know what's in your heart for sure. Just know that I'll still be here Tasuki, and just know that I love you."
Chichiri kissed Tasuki hand and just like that, was out the door.
And for the first time, in a long time, Tasuki felt like everything was going to be ok.
Edit: Well, that is the end as it shall stand, and it's also probably very close to how it was originally going to end. (Originally it was gonna end in this chapter, but then my brain changed it's mind and started writing more, so I supposed things are back to normal now.) I'm sorry it isn't some epic romantic ending, but I think this is the way things should be. Nothing can happen that quickly, things need time to grow and work on, especially seeing Tasuki is pretty much still in love with Kouji. I want to end this knowing that they probably will be together, and that when it finally happens it will be for good. Also, I once got a review bitching at me for having Tasuki fight Nuriko here, well if you're too stupid to get why a hotheaded teenage boy who find his best friend in an embrace with someone he's in love with would get pissed off at said best friend… then you are an absolute imbecile. Oh, and the alternate ending is in the next chapter.
