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

A/N: Brief sexual content is present in this chapter. You have been warned. XD

REVISED: November 15, 2010

Haha, I dreaded having to re-read this chapter. Took me enough stalling to finally get off my lazy butt to edit this. LoL

Breathe
Chapter 12: Intimate Moment
By: LadyYuina

It was an odd dream. A sensational one, very much drawn out, and repetitive. A repletion of one's life, feelings, and actions.

Kantarou suddenly awoke and sat up in his futon due to the pain coming from his scar . . .

The dream triggered the memory of a peculiar day. The day when Ichi was barking at some unseen force . . .

[KANTAROU'S DREAM]

"Ichi." Kantarou sighed in mild frustration. "There's no one there so you need to stop barking . . ."

Ichi did not obey him, and she continued to bark, snarling every once in a while.

It was faint, and wasn't considered as a strong lingering presence . . .

However, the awareness of that presence eventually increased in Kantarou. Ichi sensed it way before him. Without a doubt, where the mysterious woman had once been occupying there was a presence there. Feeling uneasy, Kantarou kept his eyes rooted to the spot.

What happened next came so fast that the silver-haired man hardly noticed until he had been struck hard in the chest. He keeled over from the pain while he clutched at his chest. Ichi ceased her barking, whimpering for her Master's injury. Whispers were heard all around him; some lines were incoherent while others passed by like a blur unnoticed. After what seemed like minutes the voices all joined into one, saying, "The Tengu gave you your scar. Let him know and he shall transform back. There is imminent danger . . ."

Kantarou paled at the sudden accusation, and his bracelet was jingling so hard he thought his wrist would snap. The now overwhelming pain was causing him to lose his strength, and before he knew it he had blacked out.

[BACK TO THE PRESENT TIME]

He glanced over at Haruka's sleeping form, and for a brief moment smiled, when he thought how peaceful he looked. His smiled quickly faded though when he thought about the voices . . . How could he have given him his scar before Haruka was even released? Still . . . Sure, Kantarou had doubts, and it was only natural that he did. He wasn't even entirely sure he had met Haruka as a child. But because he wasn't aware of who gave him his scar, Haruka could just as likely be the perpetrator much like anyone else. It sounded rather funny to say, but it was a possible truth.

Haruka stirred as his ears tuned into the soft sounds of writing - of a pen scratching away on paper. He peeked over to see Kantarou squatting at his desk, hand moving furiously as he wrote. Even as he sat up to look at him through half-lidded eyes, Kantarou did not turn his way, for he was too engulfed in whatever he was doing.

As for the spiritualist, he was well aware of the Tengu's presence. He was simply too keen on getting his thoughts down on paper, and oddly enough, he now kept a journal to write his worries and problems in. At first he tried to continue the story of his life, yet upon realizing he was unable to go on he decided to take a short break. Alas, he was now back at it (quite diligently). It was nearing the part he dreaded . . . However, he wanted to get it written eventually because he somehow sensed he'd get the answers.

"What are you writing?" Haruka asked.

That broke Kantarou's concentration and he immediately stopped, now bothering to look at the Tengu. He then proceeded to lie that he was working on Reiko's article, and reluctantly finished his sentence off with a sunny smile. He stashed it away before Haruka could read it when he came up to him.

Curious, the Tengu chirped, "you won't let me see it?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want you to see it. This article is about Tengu, so you wouldn't want to read it anyway . . ." Haruka shrugged before hauling his Master over his shoulder. Startled by the sudden gesture, Kantarou flailed his arms and legs, asking Haruka what he was doing. His cheeks reddened when he heard the answer. "Haruka, I'm not ready for this! I order that you put me down! Haruka, listen to me!"

"I think you're more than ready," Haruka replied. "Besides, you can pay me back this way for writing about us Tengu, and not letting me see the article. Who knows what you could have written down."

"Pervert . . ." Kantarou grumbled, finally ceasing his struggle.

That whole article thing was a complete sham, though he couldn't tell Haruka. Sucking it up, Kantarou told himself he'd manage through this. After all, nothing bad can really happen . . . right?

Once inside the washroom, Kantarou was placed down on his own two feet. He felt awkward standing there watching Haruka get the bath ready. He knew he was blushing, and dearly wished he'd stop reacting in such a fashion.

Haruka took off his robe, obviously baring himself to the smaller man, and a light blush was evenly crossed over his features.

"Want me to wash your back for you?" He sweat dropped when he realized that Kantarou was already in the tub; his back turned to him. "Geeze, you went in already? You could have waited for me."

"And why should I?"

"We've been together for a long time now. Getting and becoming intimate is merely the first step to take things further, Kantarou. Bathing together is one such good way."

Close to wailing, the panicky silver-haired man cried, "I knew you were a pervert! Don't tell me you've been thinking about something like this all along!"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. But isn't it natural to want to do this with the person you care about? At least this is what I have assumed humans tend to do."

"Well, yes, humans do this . . . It's . . . It's just really embarrassing, is all. Plus, I've never been with another guy before."

"I shall be your first then." He strode to the bath and stepped in. Kantarou remained where he was, huddled, and looking down the whole time. "Can I wash your back?"

"S-sure . . ."

A small bout of silence sifted by.

"Your skin's really pale."

"Of course; I'm always wearing robes, aren't I?"

"True."

Another bout of silence sifted by and Kantarou's stiff demeanor wasn't fading away like Haruka had hoped.

Haruka didn't know how to make Kantarou relax, and because he was still so tense he was beginning to believe this was a bad idea. As they sat there a plan began to form itself inside his head.

"Kantarou, I propose to you a challenge."

"Challenge?" This seemed to perk up the spiritualist's interest. A challenge was usually something he never let pass up.

"My challenge to you is that you won't be able to relax and act like yourself while you bathe with me." Kantarou scoffed at the notion, and proposed his end of the challenge, saying Haruka had to keep his hands to himself then. "You're on."

"I'll definitely win," Kantarou said boastfully (though inwardly he was far from feeling confident).

"I give up, you win." Stupefied, Kantarou didn't react until Haruka kissed him. He almost reeled back by instinct when he felt Haruka's hardened crotch pressing against him.

Haruka was turned on . . . By him?

Extremely aware of the closeness Kantarou shifted slightly to stop the contact of skin against skin. Haruka broke away from the kiss, staring at the other man; he saw that his face was red . . . a really bright shade of red. The color of his cheeks almost matched the color of his eyes. His expression was that of innocent inexperience, and Haruka smiled, finding amusement from Kantarou's reluctant attitude. Still, the longing for release never left his mind.

"Um . . . Haruka . . ." Kantarou stumbled for the right words to say.

He didn't want to tell Haruka straight out that he was a virgin - it was too embarrassing. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to think of anything other than this steamy washroom scene. Kantarou opened his eyes though when he felt himself being lifted up, as his bottom left the flooring of the tub to rest gently atop Haruka's thighs. Gulping, he looked at the Tengu curiously. He gasped when Haruka suddenly pushed through into his rear. He had never felt anything like this before, and the sensations were quite painful.

He grimaced, digging his nails into Haruka's shoulders. "Ugh! This hurts, Haruka!"

Haruka stilled himself; he could feel Kantarou's muscles squeezing in around his groin and it felt nice. As much as he wanted to grind against his Master's body he remained the way he was. If doing this only caused him pain he didn't want to continue. Right when he was about to pull himself out Kantarou stopped him, shaking his head in a silent answer of no. Haruka couldn't see why he wanted to stay like this when he was in pain . . . a lot of pain. Haruka could tell by the expression on his face.

"Kantarou, we can stop if you want."

Pursing his lips together, he shook his head again, cheeks flaring a crimson red, as was a usual occurrence when they were in intimate situations. Slowly, he started to move himself up and down to create a rhythmic rocking motion. Haruka wanted to speed it up to make it a speedy orgasm, although it didn't look like it was going to happen. He held still as Kantarou shyly did the movements of love-making. "Um . . . can we speed this up?"

Kantarou nodded, unsure of what to do. Given the permission Haruka went about his business. The spiritualist gasped as pain ripped through his anus, and he bit down hard on his lips to suppress a scream. And all the while Haruka was too busy pleasuring himself to even notice.

After several fast, sharp thrusts, Kantarou shouted, "stop, stop! It hurts too much! Please, stop!"

Haruka didn't stop, because he was perhaps too close to the end to not let himself finish. However, each inward and outward movement nearly made Kantarou scream in pain. He hadn't realized making love could hurt so badly . . .

The disillusioned moment Haruka was in soon faded away, and he was snapped back to reality by the soft sobbing of the silver-haired man. Looking down he noticed the water was beginning to turn a slight red . . .


The sound of bird's chit-chattering was a nice distraction to the monotony of what human's considered as "daily life". Haruka was by himself today, after having been turned down when he asked Kantarou to accompany him to the roof. Though after a while, it didn't seem like such a bad idea to ask Youko for some of her time.

"So, what's up? Something on your mind, Haruka. It's really not like you at all to ask me up here."

"No, it's nothing."

"Well, I have something to say . . . Have you noticed how Kan-chan's been walking today? He's been wobbling around like a penguin. I don't remember you two going out last night to fight demons and whatnot. Would it be strange if I asked him about it?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"You're a guy, he's a guy, and I'm a girl . . . So it lead me to believe maybe it's a guy problem?"

"I have noticed the wobbling, but I don't know what caused it," Haruka lied. Thankfully his back was turned to Youko or else she would have seen how red in the face he had become.

Youko groaned then, saying, "I feel a little bad for him. He's been lying on his stomach an awful lot today, and he's been complaining about pain in his thighs as well."

"Really, now?"

"Yeah. He didn't tell you?"

It came to Haruka's attention that Kantarou perhaps was truly a virgin, and this alone quickly explained for the nervousness and panic he was sensing from him.

"Don't you think we should get some medicine for him? Lying on your stomach for long periods of time too often isn't healthy for you; I've heard that it can sometimes suppress your breathing." Miffed, Haruka asked her where she heard such a thing. "Hasumi told me that a while ago, though I can't say if it's true or not."

"That's because it isn't true. He made that up," Haruka said.

"Well, I'm going to check up on him. You staying here, Haruka?" He nodded. "All right, then."

Upon entering his room she found he was fast asleep (on his stomach), and she also couldn't help but notice the neatly stacked papers on his desk. Walking closer she took a moment to read a bit of what was written.

May seventh: It was on this day that Kantarou, Youko, and Haruka met the child known as Suzu. She was a petite girl with short brown hair and bright blue eyes; they were so much like Youko's. At a glance, Kantarou knew that Suzu disliked him, favoring Haruka instead . . . He felt saddened by the prospect. Yet, as time passed Suzu began to become friendly towards the spiritualist, treating him as one of her friends.

Ruby-red eyes would narrow ever so slightly, but the eyes were never willing to see.

Mouth drawn out to a thin line, yet a word was never spoken.

Fingers would curl up, though a punch was never thrown.

Kantarou saw past these diabolical rules he'd set for himself. Suzu, a child and friend, wanted to hang out with him . . . She was the first . . .

Clearing her throat Youko slowly backed away and stepped foot out of the bedroom. She never realized Suzu meant so much to Kantarou, and knowing he knew of her condition prior to her or Haruka must have left some deep wound inside of him. How deep of a wound she was sure she would never find out.

Bowing her head, she smiled a sad smile. It felt like she had been with Kantarou for the longest of time, but just how much did she really know about him?

She wasn't even sure.

Chapter 12: END