Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Tactics. They are the property of Kinoshita Sakura and Higashiyama Kazuko.

A/N: I thought this chapter title was lame . . . It sounds too obvious, but I couldn't think of phrasing it any other way. Well, enjoy everyone! R+R please!

REVISED: August 28, 2010

Bleh . . . This chapter left a sour taste in my mouth. Corniness and bad writing seriously do not mesh well. -_-;

Breathe
Chapter 11: Festivities and String?
By: LadyYuina

The last of his healing wounds were on his back. It had been a month and roughly two days since the attack occurred. And as a result it ended Ichi's life. Kantarou stood before the enormous grave, looking at it for a very long time. Though Ichi had been buried weeks ago, he found he couldn't come pay her a visit till now. Youko, at the time of finding out about her death, was utterly heartbroken (as was he) and he remembered her telling him something akin to:

"Listen to me, Kantarou. It wasn't a mistake for having Ichi as a friend. She was a great dog, and nothing you could have done would have saved her. It's best she rests in peace knowing you aren't living day by day ridden with guilt. It wasn't your fault."

He let out a long sigh.

"You were a great companion while you were alive. I forgive you, so please don't follow me around anymore."

A loud howl rose up to the heavens. A large white dog came out of the clearing behind the spiritualist, and as she came to his side she gradually shrunk back to her original form.

"I'll be all right. The wounds will heal and I'll be all right. Go on."

Ichi gave him one last glance before she faded away completely, her tail wagging the entire time.

He wondered why he allowed her to wander for all this time. Did he find comfort from her spirit? Perhaps he did . . . More than once she had watched over his sleeping form. Even in his dreams he could somehow sense her presence.


"I'm bac-." A small green figure came hurdling itself at him, being quick to snuggle him affectionately. "Whoa, Muu-chan, hi!" Kantarou nearly got the wind knocked out of him by the green youkai. Her husband and Haruka stood a little ways off, and they were throwing daggers at them with their eyes. Kantarou sweat dropped.

"Mu?"

"Muu-chan is just being friendly! You two already know that!" They were still glaring at him. "Seriously!"

Kantarou ran for it when Sugino started to chase him, demanding that he give him back his precious Muu-chan. Haruka would have joined in if he didn't feel so embarrassed about it. And besides, his wounds, much like Kantarou's hadn't completely healed yet.

"Quit it, Sugino! Are you trying to give me more injuries!" Kantarou cried.

"If you'd so much as give me back my wife, I won't!" Sugino roared.

Dirina's threat now seemed like a distant incident, and since Ichi's attack on Kantarou nothing else had happened. Haruka knew that he shouldn't be too relaxed about the whole situation, yet he couldn't help it when he was around Kantarou.

He looks so full of life . . .

Nothing is going to happen to him, right?

"Cut it out already, Sugino! You don't have to be that jealous!" Kantarou shouted, still running around the house. Muu-chan clung onto him tightly, still refusing to let go. When Kantarou ran by the Tengu (for the twentieth time), Haruka grabbed his gi by the collar, and halted his running altogether. "Uuuuaaaggggghhhh!"

"Mu-mu-mu!" Muu-chan wailed like a little infant once she was pulled away from the silver-haired man.

Youko (whom was doing the laundry) came into the living room to see what the commotion was, and burst out laughing when she saw the scene. She commented that they reminded her of clowns. It was quite insulting really, though no one took it seriously.

"Muu-chan, stop it! I'm your husband, not him! Can't you tell!" Muu-chan stopped struggling to look at her husband in the eyes. Beady black orbs stared deeply into green ones. "I'm your husband, Muu-chan . . ."

"Mu . . ." She gently kissed him on one side of his cheek.

"I love you so much!"

Sugino squeezed his lover, and was pretty much treating her as if she were a plushy. Gagging for air, Muu-chan swatted at his face mercilessly until he let go. Youko couldn't help but laugh some more. In this point in time, she was laughing so much that tears started to form at the corner of her eyes. Though, on the other hand, Sugino and Muu-chan ignored her, instead averting their attention towards Kantarou.

"What are you two looking at me for?" he half asked, half stated.

"There's a local festival today that's celebrated here, no?" Sugino said.

"Mu-mu!"

"Yeah . . ."

"Muu-chan and I would like to stay for it if you three don't mind . . ." He stared at Kantarou carefully, wondering what his answer was going to be. Smiling, Kantarou warmly (in a near fake attempt) accepted them as guests, saying the more people there were the merrier. All that fluffy stuff. "Don't forget, we're not here because of you; we're here for the festival."

"I know . . ."

Sensing his displeasure Muu-chan flew out of her husband's arms to go pat the spiritualist on the shoulder despite Sugino's protests. She spoke her language in what seemed like comforting mu-mu sounds. Kantarou rubbed her head fondly, thanking her. Somehow, he knew she said this time.

'I'm not just here for the festival, I'm here because of you, too.'

Also wanting some attention showered his way, Haruka said, "Kantarou, I've never been to a festival before. What's it like?"

"Really? You've never been to one? You youkai must do celebrations too, right?"

"Course we do. Ours isn't much different than yours, in fact. I've been told before that our customs have been developed centuries before humans, and that certain special humans who had the power to enter youkai realms were able to witness it. In turn, this has affected how you humans do it today. I won't go into the details, but you get it, right?"

"Hn, interesting. What about you, Haruka? Don't Tengus have some sort of ceremonial custom as well?"

"We Tengus' do no such thing. It sounds like foolish activities," Haruka flatly replied.

"You lot are such a spiteful bunch," Youko teased. "Festivities brings about great joy and fun times. You'll see later what I mean."


"Hmmm . . ."

Haruka looked to her general direction. "What?"

"Nothing! It's nothing!"

"What's the 'hmmm . . .' for? You've got something on your mind."

"It's nothing! Really, it isn't!"

"No point beating around the bush. Just say it."

Youko stuck out her tongue at Haruka as a light blush crossed over her cheeks. Haruka raised one eyebrow at her, wondering what she could be blushing about. She then looked down at her fingers, fiddling with them as the blush on her cheeks deepened. Haruka now squinted at her, staring at her as if she had gone insane.

"Ummmm . . ."

"Just say it."

"Shut up! Let me piece together the way I want to say this . . .!" Youko looked helplessly at Haruka, and in a softer tone, "it's not that easy to put into words, you know?"

That last line worried Haruka, and he started to suspect that she was hinting at something he wasn't going to like . . .

"Erm . . . Well." She scratched at her head. "You're going to get real mad, I think, but I don't know why or how. I'm starting to fall madly in love with Kan-chan!" Haruka's eyes widened to the size akin to small saucers. When did this turnabout occur? "I know you two are finally together, but I can't help feeling attracted to him. Believe me, I've never felt this way towards him until now. Please, don't get the wrong idea. I don't want to steal him away from you."

As if on cue Kantarou dashed into the living room, stopping abruptly in front of the fox youkai. He never once glanced at Haruka; there was a strange glint to his eyes, and all he could seem to focus on was Youko. The same could have been said about her.

This seemed a little too strange, and obviously smelled like a set-up. Haruka, by the ticking second, was becoming more and more furious. Youko and Kantarou had been together far longer than he and Kantarou had ever been; it shouldn't have come as a shock to finally notice their true feelings for one another, but him being pushed aside so easily wasn't sitting with him too well.

"Haruka! I'm sorry! I'm madly in love with Youko! There's this intense desire burning within me! It's hard to explain!"

"Have you two been hiding this from me all along?" he asked, voice dripping with disbelief. It angered him to think he was so gullible as to allow Kantarou and Youko to play with his heartstrings. "Do you find it funny? Were you two laughing at me behind my back? Well, are you satisfied?"

"Haruka, it's not what you think! I . . . We seriously can't explain what's happening! I swear! I didn't have any romantic feelings for Kan-chan before!" Youko pleaded, eyes brimming over with tears. "If this was truly the case I would have never tried to get the two of you together!"

Haruka simply scoffed and chose to walk away.

"Haruka!" Youko pleaded again. "Please, don't leave!"


Sadly, Haruka was alone when the festival started. The other four paired up, leaving him alone by himself. He felt left out. As entertaining as all the events looked Haruka didn't have the heart to participate; he was feeling down.

"Come on over! That's right, folks! This beautiful red string that binds you and your loved one for all eternity! Step right up! Get yours today!"

Red string? Binds you together for all eternity? Could it be . . .?

This could be a possible explanation, but Haruka didn't want to jump to any conclusions too quickly. Other scenarios played themselves out as well, and none of them were to his instant liking. From across the festival grounds he caught sight of Muu-chan and her husband. Unsure of himself, he wanted to seek someone out to talk to.

"Sugino, Muu-chan, have you two seen Youko and Kantarou anywhere?" Haruka asked.

Sugino frowned, not liking the tone his friend was using. Sweat dropping, he told Haruka that he hadn't seen them ever since they arrived. However, his lie was completely blown when Muu-chan hopped out of his arms to show Haruka where they went.

"Muu-chan! Do you know what you're doing!" Sugino tried to find some way to make Muu-chan look like a moron - nothing was working.

"Huh? Muu-chan, Sugino, Haruka, what are you three doing over here?" Kantarou looked from one face to the other.

Haruka nearly growled when he saw that the fox youkai and his recently beloved were holding hands; jealousy was quick to course through his veins. Muu-chan saw the immediate danger so she yanked some invisible thing in between Youko and Kantarou's entwined hands. They both fell forward, yelping in surprise, hands still joined.

"Huh?" Youko looked from her hand and then to her Master. Shrieking, she let go immediately, shouting at the top of her lungs that he'd gone insane to hold her hand in such a manner out in public. Kantarou wasn't faring so well either, as he was shouting at the top of his lungs that he was not perverted, she was.

"Muu-mu-mu-muuuu-mu!" Muu-chan produced a long length of red string. It looked exactly like the ones the salesman was yammering on about. All eyes turned to Sugino when Muu-chan pointed a finger at him accusingly. They pinned him down with their angry stares.

"Hehehe . . . I can explain . . . It was a joke. No harm done, right?" He glanced at his wife, and even she was glaring at him. His mischievous little charade had ended. It would have been permanent too if they had gone like that through midnight. Still, he was satisfied; that mischief alone should have shown Haruka how he felt whenever Muu-chan approached Kantarou.

"This was all Sugino's doing? What exactly happened?" Youko asked.

"Muu-chan said Sugino tied the strings of fate to each of your pinkies. That was why the both of you were acting strange, saying you loved one another . . ." Haruka explained. He could feel a sense of relief washing over himself.

"I said that!" Kantarou and Youko shouted in unison. They stared at each other, blushing. Suffice to say, Haruka was glad that they were back to normal. Haruka was really moping over the two almost-to-be love birds, but thankfully it was all a sham. Or else . . .

Youko sighed, shaking her head. "Why'd you do it? Were you trying to tear Kan-chan and Haruka apart?"

"Apart? Them?" Sugino seemed overly confused.

"Oops!" she squeaked.

"Hey, wait a minute! Don't tell me . . ."

"Mu?"

"Sugino, drop it."

"Haruka! Don't tell me you're with . . . Him! A human no less!"

"It shouldn't concern you; you have Muu-chan and that should be enough, right?"

"Ah. Well . . ."

"Phew, I'm feeling a bit winded, but it'd be such a waste to not enjoy ourselves for a little bit. Come on, let's party!" Youko cheered, leading both Kantarou and Haruka by the hand. "What's been done has been done! There's no point in moping over something that never came to be! Be grateful!"


"What exactly did Youko and I do or say? I can't remember a thing," Kantarou mused. "It was frightening enough to see myself holding her hand."

"It's better you didn't."

Kantarou sweat dropped. "Eh? Why's that? She and I didn't . . . You know . . ."

"Of course not."

"Haruka, it's kind of funny."

"What is?"

Kantarou smiled. "Because I never pictured you as the jealous type."

"I'm not."

"You were certainly raving when Youko and I were under the influence of the string, weren't you?" Haruka frowned, knowing he couldn't really deny this part. "Hahaha, see? But it's not necessarily a bad thing. I probably would have felt the same way if our roles were switched."

"Heh . . ."

In a low whisper, the spiritualist said, "kiss me."

Chapter 11: END