Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Tactics. They are the property of Kinoshita Sakura, got it?

A/N: Sorry for the lateness of not updating but I've been caught up in schoolwork, you can all blame my teachers. I'm afraid the battle isn't over yet, I'll be super busy till the end of school so everyone please be patient. And I love getting reviews so please click, click, click that button when you're done reading, 'kay?

REVISED: March 31, 2011
SECOND REVISION: July 3, 2011

Yah, I revised it a second time. Now onward to chapter 15! XD

And if you don't know what josei means? Then that's simply another incentive to go and look it up!

Breathe
Chapter 14: Adjustments
By: LadyYuina

Fluffy material obscured her vision and Youko hurried herself to rise up and off the bed. Rosalie sat beside her futon, clinging onto her look-a-like Muu-chan doll. Youko looked at her for a second before she realized what the child was staring at - a pair of ears and a tail. Mortified, she quickly willed them away before Rosalie had the sense to question her about it.

And as if by clockwork, Hasumi then entered the room. "About time you woke up," he said.

"Sorry. Guess I overslept."

"She has fox ears," Rosalie noted as she looked up at her father. "And a fluffly tail; I saw it." Youko sweat dropped, hoping Hasumi wasn't really going to believe her. She sighed in relief when he said she was simply blabbering nonsense. And for once Youko was grateful he was as "logical" as any person could possibly become. "I'm not lying, daddy."

Youko smiled, thinking how wonderful it was that Rosalie had opened up to Hasumi and was acknowledging him as her father. It's been two weeks since she came here, and though she hadn't expected to stay this long, she simply felt she wasn't ready to go back just yet. And luckily Hasumi was a man of simple reasoning, so the little lie she made sufficed enough for him to permit her to stay (for almost as long as she wished).

[TWO WEEKS AGO]

"All right, all right, I'm coming!"

A jolt of nervous anxiety struck at Youko, and so she stepped back a little, clumsily adjusting the hem of her kimono. She immediately looked up when the shoji-screened door slid open. Surprised eyes greeted her in a not-so-friendly way. Youko smiled weakly under the man's careful glaring. Rosalie stood directly beside him.

"Youko," Rosalie said. "Daddy, Youko is here."

Youko stared at the girl in amazement. She never did recall hearing her call Hasumi daddy, but it seemed like time truly did do wonders. She remembered Rosalie looking a bit different, too. Her pretty long hair was now to her armpits (having been cut shorter), and she no longer tied it back with black ribbons but instead, let her hair fall around her in curly waves. Alas, it has been a good solid nine to ten months since Rosalie was adopted.

If Youko wasn't mistaken. Rosalie was now the same age as Suzu.

"What brings you here?" Hasumi asked. "You're a friend of Kantarou's, aren't you?"

"Haha, yeah, about that . . ." Youko tried her best to fake the emotion in her voice. "You see, he kicked me out, telling me to live elsewhere. Since you're the only other person I know besides Reiko, I was hoping you could let me stay here for a while until Kan-chan cools down. You know how angry he can get sometimes . . ." Youko gave Hasumi her most woeful look, trying her best to make her eyes look glossy - crocodile tears would've been even better. "I'm sure he'll let me go back in a month or two . . ."

"Daddy, let's let her stay. She can play with me when you're at work," Rosalie urged. She dropped one hand away from her doll to tug at her father's arm. He looked to her and then back at Youko, a hand placed thoughtfully on his chin. His eyebrows curved down into narrow arches.

"You can stay for a month or so I suppose. You better help out with the chores though. I dislike freeloaders. Got that?" Youko nodded. "You can stay in one of our guest rooms; we have three so you can pick whichever one you like."

"I can show her where they are, daddy!" Rosary took a hold of Youko's hand, and pulled her down a narrow stairway to their left. The fox youkai had no idea when the child had become so lively and talkative . . .

She was wasn't like this before . . .

Once they were a little ways away from the hallway, Rosalie said, "I saw Suzu yesterday; she said she had fun with a white dog, and is glad that she's not alone anymore."

"Suzu?"

"Uh-huh, she came to me last night. We talked for a while before she left."

[BACK TO THE PRESENT]

Rosalie waited by the bedroom door while Youko dressed. Her green eyes stared at Youko's back, fascinated, as she stood erect like a stone pillar, with Muu-chan's look-a-like plushy snuggled close to her chest. By the time they made it to the kitchen Hasumi had already left for work, and on the kitchen table was a small note. It said the same old usual thing . . .

Watch the house and tend to Rosalie properly. I'll be back later.

As if Youko already didn't know she was to tend to the house and take care of Rosalie. In fact, it wasn't surprising she felt a slight twinge of being much like a housewife. She'd felt like this while living with Kantarou too, though the only difference here was that there was a child to take care of. If she thought about it for a moment Kantarou was also like a child, so between Rosalie and Hasumi, Kantarou and Haruka . . . they were pretty much even.

"What are we having for lunch?" Rosalie placed her doll down on the kitchen table, and proceeded to sit down next to it.

Youko looked at her, wondering what she should conjure up this time. She announced several dishes, all of which were refused until she said snow pea soup. The fox youkai thought it was strange that a child like Rosalie would like something so plain - it sounded like old people soup.

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yes. Pea soup is one of my favorites. Daddy and I eat it all the time."

"Um . . . Okay."


Kantarou groaned as he laid on his futon, contemplating. He hated to admit it, but he was already missing Youko a great deal. It was nice not to have her nag about his article, and yet after a while of this lonesome silence, he thought it wouldn't be so bad. She made the place lively, being the only female in the house and all.

He glanced over at Haruka's sleeping form and let out a soft sigh.

"I'm awake, you know," Haruka said, startling the man.

"Geeze, you scared me!"

"Something bugging you?"

Beneath the moon's elegant light the Tengu could make out the mild frown on his Master's face. It became glaringly obvious what was bothering him then.

"Say, how long have you known Youko?" When an awkward quietness followed, he added, "that is, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to . . ."

As if pouting about the Tengu's sudden submission, Kantarou said, "I've been with her for twelve years."

"I see."

"That doesn't surprise you?"

"No, though I'm still a little jealous."

Kantarou scoffed and told him jealousy was going to get him nowhere. It was at this point that the bed games started. Though slowly, Haruka tentatively placed a hand on his Master's waist and waited. Kantarou stilled but soon relaxed and tried his hardest to not lose his composure.

Haruka stared for a long moment. Everything about Kantarou enticed him, stirred his loins in such an erotic fashion, even he himself sometimes couldn't fathom why or how.

However, right now he wanted him. He wanted him quite badly, actually.

But . . .

Haruka was pretty sure the other man wasn't ready, for he'd recently recovered from the pain of having penetrative sex. No matter how desperately he wanted to masturbate, it wasn't going to be possible when the object of his fantasies and desires was right here next to him. . . Lest he wanted to frighten the poor man.

A few minutes passed by and Haruka's now fully erect totem pole was becoming rather painful. The will to get up, go outside, do his business and then come back was easier of a thought than it actually being acted upon. Kantarou's body was too tempting, and almost a tad bit too inviting . . . And alas, without meaning to, he snaked his arm around the silver-haired man's waist, pulling him close. Kantarou immediately froze when he felt something warm and hard poking at his side.

He looked at Haruka disbelievingly.

"Again . . .?" Kantarou meekly asked. As usual, he couldn't help blushing, for intimate situations always triggered this reaction.

As his hesitant way of approval, the silver-haired man squeezed the Tengu's hand firmly. Yet, despite his approval, Haruka was afraid he'd hurt him again, and from the look of things it seemed very likely.

Haruka found that he was shaking his head. "Actually, it's all right. I'll go outside and get some fresh air instead."

Haruka wouldn't have minded a simple hand job from someone other than himself, but somehow it felt inarguably embarrassing this time around.

Before leaving the room though, he turned and said, "I didn't meant to startle you. Sorry."

Kantarou's blush deepened as he nodded.


Haruka awoke, dimly aware of the still present darkness to today's dawn. He instinctively glanced to his left, and noticed Kantarou was not there. He stood up and stretched, giving himself ample time to relax his tense muscles. It didn't immediately occur to him, but his left arm felt overly sore, though this was the least of his current concerns.

For times like this it was predictable of Kantarou to be at the patio; Haruka watched him - watched as the man's intense red orbs gazed up towards the blooming skies, and watched as a slight trickle of a tear fell from one eye.

The Tengu moved a step or two, with the intention of getting a better view, but was spotted by the silver-haired man. He turned, face awash in the now glorious morning light, as a smile graced his delicate lips. It was almost as if what Haruka witnessed was merely an illusion; Kantarou looked not a hint distraught, for he was clever with such guises.

"Good morning, Haruka!" he said with false cheer. "You're up early today." He then patted to the wooden floor beside him, signaling for Haruka to come and sit down.

Haruka shivered at the sudden blast of cold air, and took note at how lightly dressed his Master was. "I could say the same for you. You're up awfully early, too."

"Well, I couldn't sleep so I decided to get up." He smiled.

Again, with the smiles . . . Haruka believed, no, he knew Kantarou was harboring something within. A smile was a smile, meant to be disarming and friendly in every way, but Haruka couldn't ignore what laid beneath.

As if reading Haruka's mind, he asked, "is something wrong?"

No, Haruka thought, not me. But you.

"There's nothing wrong with me. There's something wrong with you."

"What do you mean, Haruka?"

Kantarou only justified Haruka's suspicions when he didn't sound surprised by the accusation.

"Don't play dumb. You know very well what I mean."

"I'm not, and if you're not willing to tell me what's bothering you, how am I supposed to know?"

"I thought about it, but these past few months you've been hiding something. You don't want me or Youko getting worried, but believe me, it's gone on long enough. Don't think we haven't suspected."

"I . . ." Kantarou shook his head, frowning. "There's nothing for me to hide. I don't know what's gotten into you, but I don't want to talk about this anymore. I was actually having a nice morning before you showed up and ruined it for me."

"Sure you were," Haruka said, sarcasm dripping from each word.

Kantarou opened his mouth as if to retort, but perhaps decided against I, for he simply turned away and looked the other direction.


The more time Youko spent with Rosalie the more curious she became. The blonde-haired child had a very interesting power to say the least, and it was quite a startling secret; last night Youko was allowed the chance to talk to Suzu's spirit. The fox youkai was so surprised she nearly felt faint. Also, another weird aspect to it was Suzu couldn't be seen, only heard, and the more Youko thought about it the more ideas she had come to mind.

If only Kantarou were to talk to Suzu, then perhaps his suffering would be put at ease . . .

"Say Rosalie, can you make the dead speak to just about anyone?"

Rosalie nodded.

"But they'd have to be connected to you, right? Touching, I mean. Like we did last night?"

Rosalie nodded again.

This is a bit risky, but I want to try it. Surely, Dirina wouldn't go after him for this . . .?

"When I go back to Kan-chan's place do you think your father would let you come over for a while?" Youko wanted to laugh at the notion, for noting Hasumi as a father instead of an ethnologist was really funny.

"I can ask him," Rosary replied, as she plucked at the arms of her plushy toy. Her short blonde hair fell around her shoulders as she concentrated on what she was doing.

Youko watched her, biting her lower lip nervously. If she went along with her plan, wouldn't Rosalie get hurt, too?

Rosary then suddenly touched Youko's arm. "The spirits are restless. They can sense your mood."

"I'm sorry. I suppose I might be homesick." She tried to give off an unfettered smile. "Perhaps I should go tomorrow - it's sooner than I thought, but in any case, Hasumi probably wants me to leave."

"That's not true. He likes your company even though he doesn't openly admit it. I've heard him mumbling to himself before. And since you're planning on leaving tomorrow I'll ask my daddy tonight."

"Okay."

Rosary stood in front of Youko, unmoving. She grabbed hold of Youko's kimono when she tried to walk past her. The fox youkai gave her an inquiring glance.

"About last night, Suzu told me something she didn't tell you."

A look of mixed emotions washed over the child's face. Youko didn't know how to interpret it. Rosalie's hold on her kimono tightened.

"I just wanted to mention that to you . . . I can't tell you what Suzu told me, because she said Kantarou would be in danger if I did."

"Kan-chan?" Rosalie nodded. Her naturally calm features turned into a scowl, and it appeared the child regretted blurting anything to Youko at all. Despite this, Youko couldn't help feeling angered. "Put Kan-chan in danger? He's already in danger! What's the point of keeping any more secrets from each other!"

Taken aback by the fox youkai's sudden outburst all Rosalie could do was stand and watch.

"Something is going to happen to him! I just know it. Yet." She could feel herself begin to tremble. "And yet, he won't tell me or Haruka what's going on!"

"Silence!"

Blood splattered onto the walls - onto Rosalie's face. An ear piercing scream rung across the premises, and a hand covered in blood flicked the warm liquid off its surface, as large green eyes widened while they watched in fear. The figure stared at her angrily, dark furious eyes holding her in place. The child was too frightened to move.

"The time is near."

Rosalie stayed rooted to the spot, and screamed when she felt long talon-like fingers dig into her flesh. It was over in mere seconds. All was quiet.

Chapter 14: END