Disclaimer: I do not own FY or any of the characters in it, here except for my own ones.

CHAPTER 12:

PLACE CLOSER TO HOME…

A week and a half later…
Hori walked in to the living room where Tasuki was sprawled in front of the TV.
"Do you do anything but watch stupid programs."

"Come on dude. This is life. All fun."
"You have joined college you know, you might as well do some studying."
"All done with."

"How come Tasuki? AME/ME isn't too easy."
"Great courses dude. Thanks. I don't know what I would have done without ya."
"Getting fake papers wasn't easy Tasuki. You have to be careful."
"That's the problem when you're out of this world isn't it?" he grinned.

"Look we need to move."
"No problems are there?" Tasuki tensed.
"No you can't live on the couch forever."
"I like this place."

"We're moving."
"Then why are you telling me if my opinion doesn't matter?" Tasuki exclaimed a little annoyed.
"Look. As long as you stay under my roof, you go by my rules. You're free to go some place else though." Hori shrugged, becoming a little irritated as well. He said this with confidence, as he knew Tasuki couldn't go elsewhere.

He couldn't stay with Miaka and Taka. There was no room for another person in Chichiri and Nuriko's apartment. Mitsukake and Shouka lived quite far away, and Chiriko was just a kid.

"Fine." Tasuki sighed with utmost dislike.
"Good. There's this great place, you're going to love it." Hori chortled lightly. "Get your stuff. I'll have the things here out by the evening."

Tasuki didn't have too much trouble with packing his stuff into two boxes. But during this he held his Tessen in his hands fondly.
Though he had come to the new world, he relived every moment in his past.

The horror of the night at the inn with Miaka haunted him every now and then, the death of the seishi he was close to especially Chiriko and his emperor were fresh in his mind these being some of the more traumatizing ones. It brought sadness every time he thought about it. It was all a memory in the past, but he knew there was a change in him in this world. He felt new here.

Hori walked in when he noticed the former seishi standing there in front of he glass balcony door holding his beloved Tessen. There was sadness, his erect form was slumped. He was recollecting the past and this brought him sadness, he knew it.
Trying to push away the sadness that it brought him Hori smiled with a fake air of enthusiasm. "Tasuki, there you are."

Hearing his emperor's voice he straightened up and smiled as well.
"All done Hori."
"Good."
"Something I could do for you?'
"No- uh well yes."
"Shoot." He replied putting the Tessen away.
"You have to do it, no bars okay?"
"Fine,"

"Keep Arwen away from here, when she comes." He said taking a step back waiting for a violent reaction. They had become friends but they often got off on the wrong foot. Biting each other' head off was their pass time. He wondered if Tasuki would agree.
"NO WAY! I'm not doing anything with that chick. What the hell am I supposed to do with a brainiac like her? She needs to be taken to the mental homes I swear."
"I don't know. And I don't care. I want to surprise her. My home, my rules." Hori said firmly, at that moment the door opened and Arwen stepped in calling Hori's name.

"Now's your chance."
Tasuki sighed. "Hell alright." He drew in a breath and walked to the door quickly.
"HI Arwen, why don't we just step out into the nice sunshine?" He put his arm around her shoulder and dragged her out backwards.

"But Tasuki. I have to discuss the pro-"
"You can do that any old day! Come on. Give me a proper tour of this place." He dragged her out.
She stopped and pulled his hands away almost screaming. "Tasuki! What is the matter with you! Why the hell are you dragging me out like this?" she stepped closer eyeing him suspiciously and dangerously. "Is something wrong? Are you hiding something? Is he alright?"

"Of course dear." Tasuki grinned. "I just wanted to – to- uh- - spend the day with you that's all! Yeah! Spend the day." He nodded vigorously. She shot him another suspicious look but then she let herself be chaperoned away.
Altering their root from Starbuck he took her to Reeds annoying her immensely.
"So what'll it be? Latte? Cappuccino. Malt?" he merely blinked. "Whatever you have, my treat."
"Uh! Two cappuccinos please." She smiled at the waitress and then turned to him.
"So… how has it been here so far?"

"Uh-" he snapped out of his thoughts of that morning. "Well good."
"Good huh. That's not too bad." She nodded smiling. "I had a tough time when I transferred. But I got great help." Her happy eyes turned a little sad. He noticed this happened every time she thought about the past. Like him. He nodded.
"Astro huh? That's gotta be interesting." He tried to change the topic.

"Yup. Wonderful. My dad always managed to get the best of my imagination. He's the main reason I took it." He also noticed her face lit up when she talked about her family especially her father and brother.
"This physics thing though…" he began hastily.
"Theoretical is always like that. I had a tough time too. Ask someone to help ya out dude."
"That's why I brought you here. Will ya help me out?"

"You are a celestial warrior Tasuki. You should have no problems with physics. Besides Hori is great at this. Why me?"
"I don't want to embarrass myself in front of him. He's always been great at academics…"
"Don't be ridiculous. You know this place like you were born here. It'll be a cinch. I'll help you sure."
"Thanks."

After the cappuccino arrived, holding all his luck in his hands that she shouldn't have poisoned it or something, he drank it.
"Well?"
"Um." He had another sip. "Not bad. No taste of milk at all." He smiled pleased.
Talking for more than three hours there she suddenly saw her watch again.
"Oh Hell! I've gotta go! I've gotta fencing and B.Ball with Anya, and I'm late."

"I'll drop ya off." He got up as well but stopped her as she put down some money.
"This is my treat, I told you."
"Oh Tasuki. I'm so sorry." She said as they stepped out, "That was so expensive. You could have done something else with that money."

"Shut up kid. It's my first ever treat to anyone. Your lucky it turned out to be you." He grinned. She smiled. "Thank you Tasuki. I'm really honored."
Reaching her apartment she said goodbye and left, as he turned back, he saw Anya coming back to the apartment.
"Oh hi Anya."

"Mr. Tasuki. What are you doing here?"
"Dropping yer friend off."
"Dropping her off huh?" she eyed him curiously. She saw small traces of a blush on his cheeks.
" She introduced me to cappuccinos today. That's all." He shrugged.
"I see… but dropping her out of the way so far from your own place…" she looked at him doubtfully.
"Yeah well she was in a hurry." He shrugged, "Fencing or some nonsense fer the two of ya." Anya's eyes widened, "Oh dear Yes! See you later Mr. Tasuki!" she left in a hurry as well.

When he went back to his apartment he burst out laughing at the sight of Hori holding the end of a duct tape in his mouth pulling it onto the box at the same time while pinning down the box with his knees.

"I fouuff fluff fome feffp feffre" laughing he went to help out.
Tasuki's jaw dropped when he saw the location of their new independent apartment.
"But this is-" he looked at Hori dumbstruck who was grinning wide.
"Yup." He nodded. "Right across the street."

"How the hell did you manage this?"
"Come on man. It is a place closer to home. Since we hang out at her place most of the time anyway… we'll have no problems going back home. We can spend more time with her. Arwen is gonna be so surprised."
"Shocked is more like it. I hope she doesn't kick your ass outta this world for not telling her," Tasuki smirked. "Hey you're in it too." Tasuki smirked even more. "Sorry bubs, I was spending the day with her. I didn't know. I'm outta here. I need time out." he walked out of the apartment.

When he felt into the coat pockets he felt something soft.
There was a blue scarf and a French hat. "Arwen," he muttered. "Gotta give this to her."
He made up his mind to look for her to return it if he saw her on the way.
He was hoping he would be able to spend more time like that afternoon now too, though he hated to admit it… he had a really good time talking to her with out having a fight. That was nice.

Short and hopefully sweet… please read and review…Au revoir.