A/N: You know, this was supposed to be a fairly short fic, maybe three, four chapters at most. Well here I am at Chapter 4 and still just getting warmed up! I thought for sure that I'd have everyone naked in a hot tub by now! For those of you who like long stories, well this is for you. For those of you who like to cut right to the action, sorry.
I have Muraki as my wallpaper currently. As I write this he stares at me over his glasses, accusingly. "Why?" he begs, "Why am I not in the story?" Eh, I dunno, I guess I'm not ready to take on a Muraki story just yet.
So as I was writing the last part of this chapter I started mumbling to myself, "Yutaka in a yukata" over and over until it became a little song.
Okay enough words, on with the story! Disclaimer: No, no, I hafah no money! Not mine! Don't sue me!
Wakaba hazarded a glance at her partner, who was scowling more than usual. She sighed. He was being childish and she knew it, but deep down she couldn't help but be flattered.
Hajimi, we're on vacation. You're supposed to be smiling, not frowning."
Terazuma grunted. "Yeah, some vacation. It was bad enough when it was just Tsuzuki."
"I honestly had no idea Kotaro and Kojiro were going to be here too, I promise. Besides, they'll have their hands full. You'd have to be blind to have missed the looks between them and Saya and Yuma."
"Yeah, well I do NOT want to think about that. To top it all off he's been a PMSing bitch ever since we got here."
Wakaba frowned; wondering what it was that was bothering Kuro-chan. After all, this was his home, shouldn't he be happy here?
"I understand," Wakaba said looking around at their travelling companions, "It seems like there's a lot of strained relations in this group. But once we get settled I doubt it will matter. This place is so big we don't have to see anyone really more than necessary. How about we go for a walk in the gardens after we put or things away?"
Terazuma shrugged, "If that's what you want to do."
Wakaba put on her brightest smile. "It is."
Watari followed Terazuma and Wakaba, a few paces back, studying the two with misty eyes.
"003, isn't it so sad, yet so beautiful? Like a tragic love story. I wonder…"
"What are you wondering?"
Watari blinked, then blushed. Tatsumi had been talking with Konoe, but fell back when he noticed the scientist falling further behind everyone else. Whether his motives were concern or suspicion, only Tatsumi knew.
"Oh, hi Tatsumi. I was just wondering if there was a potion that could sort of…um…inhibit Kuro-chan's little problem so that, you know," He nodded at the pair walking ahead.
Tatsumi gave him a stern glance, or at least tried to.
"Well as much as I hate to admit, it would be useful. However I'd advise against meddling in other people's affairs, Watari, it's never a good idea. Besides, you're potions never work. I'd hate to see the damage from that."
He had meant the last bit as a joke, but Tatsumi noticed a flash of hurt in Watari's amber eyes. Mentally he flogged himself for being such a cold idiot.
"Watari, I was kidding about the last part."
Watari smiled sadly. "The best humor has a grain of truth to it, isn't that right?"
"Watari," Tatsumi felt his heart squeeze a bit in his chest. Almost immediately the blonde had his mask up again. Smiling brightly, he flung a length of golden locks over his shoulder and draped a thin, pale, bare arm around Tatsumi's neck.
"We're on vacation, let's have fun and forget about science and budgets for a while okay Tatsumi? You're coming to the hot springs with us tonight right?"
Tatsumi blushed, both from the close physical contact with a half-dressed Watari, and the mental images he conjured of wet naked Watari ascending god-like from a bath.
"I'll have to pass, you know that's really not my…ER.."
Watari turned on his most wounded pout.
"But it won't be the same without you there!"
"Eh…" Tatsumi shifted out of Watari's embrace.
"I'll see what I can do. Now you'll have to excuse me, I've got to go back to babysitting Konoe."
Watari sighed watching the secretary walk away.
"Coward," he muttered, under his breath just before laughing like a mad scientist.
"Oh well! Not for long!" Watari began to step more lively, hugging his art box close to his chest
The Shiki had gone all out to make sure that everyone felt welcome. Tenku made sure every well-appointed room had the most luxurious amenities and a private bath. It was enough to put the best 5 star hotels in Tokyo to shame.
Everyone each had their own room with a few exceptions:
Kotaro and Kojiro (causing visions of hot man on man action to play out in the Hokkaido pairs minds).
Kazuma and Nonomiya (causing visions of hot lesbian action to play out in the Hokkaido pairs minds).
And Saya and Yuma (Who thought the idea of bunking alone was just too boring, especially when there was so much hot action going on all around them).
Tsuzuki begged and pleaded and almost resorted to violence to get Hisoka to bunk with him but the teen was having none of it. He told his older partner that he was looking forward to the blissful silence of a good night's rest without being glomped into oblivion and promptly slammed the door in Tsuzuki's face. Tsuzuki's shoulders drooped and he turned away from the others to hide his disappointment.
Touda had watched the whole exchange from the shadows, keeping an eye on his master while keeping off Suzaku's radar. He didn't understand why Master put up such a fuss for the boy who wasn't even grateful for Tsuzuki's kindness towards him. From his vantage point Touda was able to see the aching loneliness that Tsuzuki was trying to hide from the others. Touda's loyalty overrode his wish to remain unseen and he emerged from the alcove he had been observing from.
"Master, if you require a sleeping companion," He knelt down submissively at Tsuzuki's feet, "I humbly offer myself to service your needs."
Tsuzuki blushed profusely, Watari choked, causing the soft drink he was drinking to spew from his nose. Tatsumi cleared his throat a lot and wiped sweat from his brow. Saya and Yuma (and the author) were reduced to a pile of yaoi fan-girl jelly.
"Touda please just call me Tsuz-"
"And what makes you think Tsuzuki'd want to sleep with you?" Suzaku hissed, kicking the submissive snake away. "Tsuzuki you know that I'm here for you if you need anything at all and I would be happy to stay with you."
"Begging your pardon, m'lady," Touda sat up, rubbing his side which still bore a distinct boot mark, "I am offering myself as Tsuzuki's most loyal Shiki."
Suzaku turned almost as red as her flames and reached back for her ridiculously oversized broadsword.
"Hey you two!" Tsuzuki was sweating and blushing and wishing there were a lot less people around. "Seriously, please stop fighting! Um…I command it!" Both Shiki gave him a wry look.
"Look, I'll be fine really. I was just hoping to spend some time with 'Soka…that's all" He trailed off.
"Well, um. I'm gonna go unpack. And I'm starving! I'll see everyone at the party this evening?" Tsuzuki smiled, his eyes crinkling in his characteristically fake way as he waved goodbye.
On the other side of the bedroom door a sandy-haired teen with bright green eyes has heard everything. He shook his head and sighed, sliding down to the floor.
"Tsuzuki," He whispered into the empty room, "How much of an idiot do you have to be?"
Byakko stretched lazily in the grass; his tail swishing from side to side, thumbing through the Pink House catalog that Yuma had given him earlier in the day. A shadow passed over him, effectively blocking out the sun's warmth and light.
"Tell me something, Byakko. What is the point of being the Guardian of the West, when you are never there to guard it?"
Byakko flipped onto his back and stared up at the source of the shadow. He smiled.
"Hiya Soryuu!"
The blue dragon looked nonplussed. "Byakko, Tsuzuki and his coworkers may be here on vacation, but we are not."
"I know that! I went out there earlier, I swear! But it was boring and nothing ever happens in the West and then I had to go meet Tsuzuki and then there were all these people so it was rude to just be like 'um, okay gotta go, bye!' And since I gotta be back here tonight for the reception I just figured I'd chill for a while!"
"Boring?" Soryuu chided, "We are not in a position to shirk our duties because they are boring. Eh, Byakko, what on earth are you reading?"
Byakko rolled to his feet and held the catalog out for Soryuu to see.
"It's a Pink House catalog!" he beamed, "This is where Yuma and Saya, the two pretty blonde girls, get their clothes. They said I could borrow it and if there was anything I liked they would order it for me. I kinda had my eye on this one." The tiger boy pointed to a particularly fluffy pink satin party dress. Soryuu rolled his eyes.
"Since today's rather hectic I suppose you can stay and relax until the reception, however, tomorrow it's business as usual. Got that?"
"Got it boss!" Byakko winked and flashed a victory sign before rolling back onto his stomach, returning his attention to the catalog.
"And, um, that one," Soryuu pointed to a more revealing electric red micro mini set on the catalog page, "the, uh, colors would compliment your, um, eyes better than pink."
With out a further word, Soryuu turned and walked back toward the castle, leaving an open mouthed, confused Shiki staring at his retreating form.
Terazuma and Wakaba had been walking though the garden for a while when they decided to venture off the castle grounds. They soon found themselves in the forest.
"This is nice," Wakaba commented, appreciating the shade the trees gave. Terazuma was having a hard time keeping his eyes off his partner. Her fair skin tended to burn easily in the sun. She already had a pink flush and a spattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks which he thought made her even more beautiful. He sighed and took a drag off his cigarette. A sudden stomach cramp caused him to cough.
"Hajime?"
"I'm good," He reassured her, "Kuro, he…Wakaba can you give me a second in private?"
Wakaba nodded, a little unsure.
"Are you going to be okay? Do I need to get anyone?"
"No, just stay here, I'll be back in a sec."
Terazuma darted into a thick outcropping of trees. He was gone for only a few minutes. When he returned he looked, different? Wakaba wondered. He was still Terazuma, pointy eared and marked, but he looked less tired as he made his way back to her.
"Miss me?"
"Of course I did, silly. Are you better now?" She asked.
"Yeah," Terazuma lit another cigarette, "He had to talk to me in private. We should be getting back now, ready?"
Wakaba nodded and hopped off the tree stump she had been resting on and followed her partner, who allowed her to catch up so that they were once again walking side by side. She felt something slide across her back and jumped thinking it was a snake. She jumped again when she realized it was Terazuma's arm snaking around her waist.
"Hajime be careful!"
"What? I'm touching the material of your clothes only, that's still okay right?"
They had discovered that Kuro only came out with direct skin to skin contact. Even so, Terazuma was always very careful and seldom risked such a bold move. Wakaba blushed slightly.
"Yeah, it's okay."
Watari carefully sat his art box on the desk in his room and threw his backpack in the corner before stripping out of his clothes and flopping onto the bed.
"Oh this is the most comfy bed ever!" He spoke out loud, "Tenku you're the best!" He gave a thumbs-up to the room, wondering if the Shiki could see him, lying there, naked. Not that it bothered him, but he thought about what he wanted to be doing on the bed and with whom. He wondered if a house could blush?
003 landed on the table and gave the art box a little nudge and made an insistent sound.
"Oh not yet," Watari answered, "It's only the first day, I don't want to raise any suspicions."
003 hooted again, indicating with her wing the open window to let Watari know she was going out to explore and to catch up with the other enchanted owls she had met on their last visit.
"Later 003!" Watari acknowledged lazily. He turned his gaze to the clock on the nightstand. It was about time to get cleaned up and dressed for the evening's events. After a long shower he began to rummage through his pack for anything not wrinkled or smelling of chemicals. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something red folded over the chair by the dressing table. It was a finely made yukata, red with hints of gold here and there. He tried it on and checked his reflection in the mirror, once again smiling everywhere in appreciation to the castle, who apparently had good fashion sense as well. The gold threads brightened his amber eyes and played off the gold of his hair, which he wore loose for the occasion.
Watari headed I what he hoped was the right direction to the main hall. After a few turns he realized he was lost.
"Hey Tenku, a little help here?"
The house was silent. Watari stuck his tongue out at it. Just then he heard a voice, two voices to be exact. He followed the sound of then until he came to a closed door. The first voice was muffled, female though, he was pretty sure. The second voice, though muffled, he knew well.
Tatsumi.
Watari could not make out what was being said. He didn't want to appear to be eaves dropping, but he didn't want to keep wandering the house until he was lost further. Suddenly the door inched open.
"After all, he is still your husband, the father of your child."
Watari gasped and jumped back. What was that all about? And who was Tatsumi talking to?
"Watari what are you doing here?"
He looked up and gasped again. Tatsumi was dressed much like he was only Tatsumi's yukata was a deep sapphire with accents of sky blue.
"Tatsumi who were you just talking to?"
Tatsumi froze. "How much did you hear?"
"Something about someone's husband. Whose husband?"
Tatsumi looked relieved.
"It is nothing. Watari please do not mention this to anyone."
Watari was deeply confused, but he didn't want to do anything to piss Tatsumi off.
"Sure thing, but um, are you headed to the main hall?"
"Yes, of course I am."
"Oh good!" Watari sighed, "because I'm never going to find it on my own."
Tatsumi smirked slightly. "It's not that hard to find Watari, come on."
He placed on arm around his partner's waist and steered him towards the door at the end of the corridor. Watari smiled slightly, warmed by the light pressure of Tatsumi's hand on his hip.
"You're still coming to the springs tonight right, Tatsumi?"
"I'm not sure."
Watari stopped.
"What if I said I'd tell everyone what I just heard if you don't go?"
"That would be blackmail." Tatsumi said matter of factly.
"You're right, perhaps it is."
"Why are you so insistent that I go? It's not like no one will be there?"
Watari shrugged, "I dunno, it's not the same with out you."
Tatsumi turned his head away from Watari to hide his grin as he opened the door to the main hall.