Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Tactics. They are the property of Kinoshita Sakura and Higashiyama Kazuko.
A/N: I'm really glad that everyone is liking my story so far, and 'welcome', to the new reviewer to my fan fiction story of Tactics! It really makes me happy to receive such nice comments! Keep it up, eh? I wish I could shower all the reviewers with hugs and kisses!
By the way, no one finds my chapters too lengthy, right?
REVISED: July 15, 2010
Man, waiting for my soon to be favorite game to come out is killin' me! I can't get it out of my head anymore, now that the release date is coming closer (yes, I am a female; yes, I am also a somewhat hardcore gamer; got a problem with that? j/k). I'm not going for the earlier access though. I'm assuming some of you know what I am hinting at. XD
Breathe
Chapter 7: Success! Kantarou or Youko?
By: LadyYuina
Kantarou was out and about with Haruka (basking in the sun on top of the roof). The challenge he took on against Youko was beginning to worry him. It wasn't hard to figure out that Haruka was lying when he told him his food was good. He, himself, was actually gutsy enough to tell himself his cooking was horrible. However, unbeknownst to the man's idle ponderings, he didn't notice Haruka giving him sidelong glances every now and then.
"Hey . . . Haruka," Kantarou shifted positions slightly and looked up at the Tengu, "if I lose what are some of the things you think Youko will make me do?" Haruka shrugged; how was he supposed to know? "Did she tell you anything?"
"No." Haruka was quite content with staring back. He loved his Master's red eyes. "Why would she?"
"I just assumed she'd share something between another youkai like yourself. I'm not trying to say I will lose, because I definitely want to win. Stopping her outrageous nagging for me to start on the article for a day will be pure bliss. By the way, Haruka, would kind of dishes do you like? Funny. I never thought to ask you this before till now."
"Me?" Seeing as his Master never bothered to venture for his opinion, he hadn't really gave it much merit himself. "Hmmm, I don't really know. Anything you want to make will be fine." Kantarou tentatively patted the black-winged Tengu on the shoulder as he rewarded him with a bright smile. "What kind of dishes did you have in mind?"
"I'm not sure yet . . . I don't have too long to dwell on it. Though I know I'm not that much of a cook, so I should make something simple."
"Like rice?" Haruka asked. Kantarou's smile and it ended up turning into a frown. He literally told Haruka that that was out of the question. Rice was not considered a recipe, for it was simply rice. A staple diet of nearly every Japanese citizen. "You're making this harder than it should be. Try to relax, Kantarou." The hand that was on his shoulder now moved back to its respective spot beside the silver-haired man. Haruka eyed the hand for a moment, and for the briefest of seconds he longed for it to be on the middle of his back again.
"I think I'll make Chicken Tatsuta and Buri Daikon. They don't sound too bad . . ." Kantarou scratched at his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, that's what I'll make tonight. Rice included, of course."
"Sounds good." Haruka smiled when Kantarou gave him a delighted hug; it was almost like a child's embrace towards one's parent. Instinctively, he wrapped his own arms around the spiritualist, not wanting to let go. Feeling the smaller man's body against his own brought him comfort he felt deeply from the heart. Haruka didn't realize Kantarou was telling him to let go until the silver-haired man was pushing against him gently. He stared down into blood-colored orbs that shined with curiosity (quite unlike Kantarou's habitual nature). Most of the time he appeared self-assured of himself.
When Kantarou sat up he said, "feeling a bit touchy, eh?" He laughed as Haruka lightly blushed, and averted his gaze from the smaller man. Haruka reminded Kantarou of a shy school girl, and it was quite funny to see. "It's all right, we're friends after all, aren't we? Besides, I'm always touching you and you hardly ever complain."
"Yeah . . . that's right." It was the simple fact that he had come to love his Master very much. It went beyond mutual love; it leaned toward the kind where Haruka longed to be intimate with him. When it all became like this, he wasn't too sure, but it only mattered that he felt it now.
Open up to me, Kantarou, even if it's just for one time. If you won't let me love you, I'd ask for nothing more than to see inside you. The real you . . . I want to know more . . .
The sun was high in the sky, signaling the time to be midday. Both stood up then and prompted to head home. There was a challenge waiting for Kantarou.
All the while, a certain blue-eyed sneak was watching them, giggling a bit too girlishly when she saw them hugging.
"On your mark! Get ready! Go!" Youko shouted.
Kantarou got to work as soon as the beginning was signaled. He read the instructions carefully, step-by-step, because making a mistake would mean he was going to lose. Starting with the Buri Daikon recipe first, he scanned over the ingredients. Four buri fillets, one pound daikon, four teaspoons soy sauce, one teaspoon sake, etc . . .
"Well . . . How does it taste?" Kantarou asked, eagerly watching Youko and Haruka's faces. It took only a second before Haruka began to turn blue in the face. "Is it that bad?" Youko followed suit and ended up spitting the food out (half-chewed).
"Yes, it's really that bad! Your food is awful! What did you put in this stuff?" Youko asked, senses reeling from the aftertaste. She let out a strangled laugh when Kantarou looked at her dumbly, obviously ignorant as to where he went wrong in the food making process. "Well anyway, starting from tomorrow you have to call me Master Youko for the day and do anything I want you to."
Kantarou sweat dropped. He wasn't looking forward to the next day at all. Youko winked at him, telling him that she wasn't going to tell him to do anything too horrifying or drastic. In fact, he might find it enjoyable. Kantarou was puzzled by her last statement. Haruka, too, looked curious as to what she was planning.
"Now, I'll make us a real dinner. Your stuff isn't edible so it seems. Too bad, Kan-chan." Youko stuck out her tongue playfully; she carried the food into the kitchen to dump them out. Haruka looked to Kantarou, and seeing as he had no say in this he remained silent.
Dejected, the spiritualist sat down, back hunched as he leaned forward. Ichi, his now very much loved dog, went to his side and settled down.
"You all right, Kantarou?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You lost, so I thought you'd be fuming. You usually do."
"No." A slight pause. "I'm okay. Really, I am."
Thoughts were running through Kantarou's mind. The mysterious woman, Dirina, monk Nanao, the latest client they had, Reiko's next article, Youko's upcoming reign over him for a day. Lastly, but not least, Haruka surfaced as well. He had quite a bit to think about . . .
The morning dew dripped off the tips of leaves to fall onto the ground, signaling the approach of a new day. No one stirred within the house except the white dog, Ichi. She sat on her hind legs to watch the morning activities of animals outside. Her ears perked up considerably when she saw a cloaked figure walk across the garden. The figure stared at her for a moment before going along her way.
Kantarou awoke to the wet nuzzling of Ichi's nose. Her tongue dripped drool all over his left arm, and feeling annoyed he sat up to tend to her.
"What's the matter?" He quickly wiped at his forearm. "Sheesh . . ."
She began to bark, looking towards his desk as she did so.
"Quiet down, Ichi, you'll wake the others up," Kantarou shushed. Before Kantarou knew what was happening, Ichi had his pen in her mouth as she growled and chewed at it furiously. Surprised, the spiritualist rushed to her side to stop her from destroying it altogether. "Ichi, let go! What's wrong with you?" She finally released the item when the disgusting ink hit her taste buds. And she then proceeded to swing her head this way and that, trying to get rid of the unwanted intrusion within her mouth. Kantarou worriedly looked to the pen, and then to the dog.
Picking her up in his arms he took her to the bathroom. Turning on the sink faucet, he thrust her head underneath to let water run through her open mouth. It was easier said than done though, because Ichi kept thrashing about trying to squirm away. As a result, both Kantarou and Ichi were wet from head to toe. Youko (the early riser of the three) happened to walk in on them, and she let out a startled yelp.
"What are you doing, Kan-chan? Why are you and Ichi all wet?" She disappeared for a moment and came back with towels. "Here, us these." She waited as Kantarou explained the situation to her. "I'm surprised she'd do something like that. I know dogs have a keen sense for spiritual energy though."
"I didn't sense any from my pen," Kantarou reasoned, placing Ichi down on all fours. She bristled up her fur, shaking as she did so to rid herself of the water stuck between her fur strands. Both Youko and Kantarou raised their arms to cover their faces from the cold droplets. Kantarou sweat dropped when he noticed Youko was giving him a coy smile. "What?"
"I didn't forget about the challenge yesterday. You have to call me Master Youko today, and also, you have to do whatever I say." Kantarou let out a exasperated sigh. "First off, get yourself cleaned up. I'll take care of Ichi for you. See, it isn't so bad, is it?" Kantarou weakly nodded, thankful for her mercy . . . So far . . .
By the time Kantarou was cleaned up, Haruka, Ichi, and Youko were already seated at the dining table and waiting for him to join them. He thanked them for waiting, bowed, sat down, and started to begin the process of eating breakfast. Youko glanced from Haruka to Kantarou, the devious glint returning to her eyes. Clearing her throat she said, "I'm letting you off the hook easily, Kan-chan." He gave her a confused look. "I'm not going to force you to start on Reiko's article, nor am I going to make you do chores."
"What exactly are you going to make me do then?" He made sure not to call her name for the sake of refusing to add the title 'Master' before it. A fake smile masked his agitated feelings. Youko instructed for him to stand to go off to the corner with her, away from the Tengu. Haruka looked in their general direction when Kantarou shouted, "I what! Why do I have to do that!" Youko and Kantarou sweat dropped, having noticed that Haruka was blatantly staring at them. "Fine, fine . . . M-Master Youko . . ."
"That a boy!" Youko cheered. "Remember, you have do it precisely as I say, okay?"
"Roger that, Master Youko . . ." This time, he couldn't avoid saying her name . . .
"Was it that bad?" Haruka asked Kantarou. The spiritualist shrugged as he said it wasn't a big deal. Haruka was surprised when Kantarou asked him if he wanted to go out on a date with him. He nodded, suddenly feeling all warm and giddy inside. Did Kantarou finally return his feelings for him? "Where would you like to go?"
"Up to you," Kantarou replied. He gave Haruka a somewhat lop-sided smile. "I have all day to spend with you." From that comment Haruka knew that this was forced upon the other man. He looked to Youko who mouthed, 'this is your chance' to him. He wasn't sure how he should have received this; it was either an insult or a helping hand. He decided to pick the second choice.
"Uh . . . Haruka . . . Does this feel awkward to you? I mean, hanging out with a human? I'm pretty sure you're not-"
"I don't mind. Seeing as it's a change of pace, it's actually quite pleasant."
Haruka looked around their surroundings. He had chosen a grassy area, a park of sorts if you will, and Youko was nice enough to (miraculously) prepare them lunch most fitting for a picnic setting. The Tengu had dreamed of something like this many times before, and yet it was now happening before his very eyes. Aside from eating together, he was sure the feeding each other part was going to be left out, unlike in his dreams where it took place.
Kantarou sat across from Haruka and for a long while it was like a staring contest. Haruka decidedly spoke up, not bothering to butter up his words. "Youko forced you to do this, didn't she?"
"That's . . ." He went quiet for a second before saying, "yeah, she did." However, Kantarou quickly raised his hands up in a disarming manner. "She did tell me to do this, but I don't mind! I don't mind at all, in fact!" Kantarou lowered the pitch in his tone considerably. "I like spending time with you."
Haruka tried to hide the smile itching to dance upon his trembling lips.
"Besides, you're good company," Kantarou finished. By now (thanks to Youko's not-so-ingenious method) he more or less knew Haruka probably had a crush on him (surprisingly).
"Is that all?" Haruka couldn't resist asking this question. It had been burning at the tip of his tongue ever since Kantarou started to speak.
"What do you mean is that all?" Kantarou figured out easily what he was hinting at, but somehow he couldn't see himself complying to it. Not yet . . . anyways.
"Never mind." Can he not see it clearly? Was he unwilling to see? Haruka wanted to know.
"What did Youko make?" Kantarou indicated to the basket with a flick of his eyes. Haruka complied and opened it. Inside were (assorted) sandwiches and a few oranges, along with a small teapot (with the spout corked closed) of tea and two tea cups. "Bleh, I don't see how oranges and tea can compliment one another."
Haruka remained quiet because as much as he adored the man, a new kind of revelation was looming upon him. He needed a moment to think about it. First off, Kantarou would grow old, and he'd remain the same . . . He had no idea how'd he take it if Kantarou were to age and die. He wasn't happy at the thought, but love conquers over all, right?
When they were done eating Kantarou tentatively laid his head upon Haruka's shoulder. Doing this little stunt alone was enough to make him turn as red as a beet, so he wasn't too sure on how he was going to approach Youko's order.
No matter though, he realized he was going to have to do it sooner or later. Purposely brushing a hand to Haruka's cheek to reel in his attention, Kantarou planted a soft wet kiss to the side of his face (merely centimeters away from the Tengu's lips).
Instinctively, a hand flew up to that spot and stayed there, and he looked down at the blushing man.
"May I?" he whispered.
The temptation was much too great, but it was only proper and civil that he asked permission first. Failing to elicit a response he went ahead and did it, locking lips with the small man. Kantarou neither flinched nor moved away.
Chapter 7: END
