Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Duty ❯ Hijinks! ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Not too sure how to describe this one. It's odd, but fun and slightly strange. You should like it if you enjoy Tama/Tasuki fics. ^-^

Anime/Manga: Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Hentai / Police / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.24.2007 | Pages: 21 | Words: 25.6K | Visits: 613 | Status: Work In Progress

Duty

By: Yahnkehy

Disclaimer: If it were mine, we wouldn't have to wait for “Sakura Gari” to come out to see Tama/Tasuki love.

Warnings: Slightly skewed version of how things turned out after Tamahome first went to Miaka's world. Language (thank you, Tasuki-kins), oddness, smut to come, and just plain fun.

Author's notes: Borrowed the idea of Tasuki's job from Ms. RavenCroft with a slight skew to it. The rest is mine. Oh, and this actually has a good bit of plot before the steamy stuff comes in, so hang on! You're in for a wild ride.

~ Chapter One: Hijinks! ~

Sargent Kishuku grumbled under his breath. There was no reason for him to have to be on duty around this district. The streets were quiet and the houses were quieter. He sighed and got out of his patrol car.

Someone had called in a sighting of a suspicious person on the roof of the library. He laughed to himself. What bored people would find to complain about. Sheesh. Who would be robbing a library? Everything in there was free. The car door slammed shut and echoed out into the streets, further proving his point that there was no need to be here.

He searched the perimeter quickly, grumbling about how under appreciated he was, and made his way into the building.

The halls were as quiet as the streets. The heels of his boots clicked against the tile. It was the only sound until there was a soft thud from above him.

Tasuki smirked as he lifted the book. It was astounding to think that almost all of his problems had begun over this slim, red, volume of text. But that was all going to go away as soon as he figured out how to get the book to let him back in.

He had an idea of where he was supposed to be, and it wasn't here in this world. He missed the mountains; the nights spent beside the fire with... the rest of the ones who were like him. He had faces, but no sure names other than one; Tamahome. Back in the book, it been hard to decide sometimes if he was going to kiss that man or kick his ass. It was infuriating!

He grinned as he turned for the door of the reference room, eyes glued to the book that was the answer to his wish to go home when he tripped over a stack of books that the evening shift librarian had left piled beside the door.

He grimaced as he got to his feet and cursed the lack of light. It wouldn't do for someone to catch him roaming around in the library after hours.

The officer's eyes narrowed. Even though it was probably nothing, he quieted his steps and headed off in that direction

Tasuki growled and set the books back up as he hoped they had been, and tucked the 'Universe of the Four Gods' into his coat before making his way to the door. His chin smarted from colliding with the hard floor, no matter if there had been carpet on it or not, it still hurt like a bitch.

He closed the door behind him, the lock clicking loudly in the stillness of the library and made his way around to the stairs that would lead him to the roof. This was the easiest job he'd pulled in days, the fact that no one would suspect someone of breaking into a library aside. No one would be insane enough to do that!

But, here he was. And no one would be the wiser.

The police officer stood corrected. In the shadows he could see someone moving. A grin slid across his face. So tonight would prove interesting after all.

He took out his flashlight and slid out his gun as silently as he could. The metal made a soft noise against the leather of the holster and the inevitable click when he cocked it, but by then he had flooded the hallway with light.

"Freeze, this is the police!" he shouted at the intruder. "Put your hands on your head and lower down to your knees." He instructed from behind the cone of light.

Tasuki froze, "Shit. C'mon man, I was just returnin' a library book. No harm in that, na?" he said, raising his hands lazily and turning to the spotlight in his face. "Ya think you could lower that goddamned light? Yer blindin' me!"

He put one hand in front of his eyes to block the light, trying to see who it was. They sounded all too familiar. "Who th' fuck are ya? And don't say fuckin' police because I arready heard that part."

"Shut up and get down." He cautioned the man in black.

Figures that this punk would be trouble. His last stop of the night before he got to go home and relax was always trouble that kept him at the station until three in the morning. "You'll have nothing to worry about if you're just returning a book." He kept the light trained steadily on the intruder and waited for him to comply.

Tasuki sighed, "Look man, I don't give blow jobs in public places. I ain't gettin' on my knees. Yer gonna hafta come here and make me if yer that goddamned anal about it." He smirked at the light source, hoping to unnerve the guard- or whatever he was- with a flash of fang. That always got people to tremble a little bit, just enough to drop their guard and let him book it.

Pun fully intended.

He smirked at his inner thoughts, his corny sense of humor making him nearly giggle despite the bad situation.

Sargent Kishuku huffed and made a grand gesture of pointing his gun at the guy. Hopefully that would deter him from being such an asshole. "If you are resisting, I will shoot you, Dracula." He stepped closer. What was with the fake fangs? "You're breaking and entering, trespassing and a whole bunch of other little shit I could get you for." He rolled his eyes; Goths and their need to be theatric. Oi.

"I just want to search you and go home. Give back the library book and come back tomorrow when you can sign it out."

Tasuki laughed, "Who says you c'n catch me?" he dropped his hands and darted towards the stairs. He'd always been faster than most people were; this would be no different.

He raced up the stairs to the roof, jamming his shoulder against the roof access door. When it didn't budge at first, he slammed his fist against it and kicked it hard. This was slowing him down! He growled and kicked the door again, this time falling through when it swung wide. He barely caught himself and gripped the door frame to lever himself out and add that little extra burst of speed to make up for his door trouble.

The police officer gave chase, it figured that he would run, but this one was faster than any person he had ever ran after. The man was out of sight before he could get a few steps. He willed his legs faster and almost caught the bastard having trouble with the door.

He reached out to grab the man, but he took off again at break neck speed inches from his grasp.

Out onto the roof, the man was almost to the edge, what was he thinking of doing? Jumping?

"Stop, freeze or I'll shoot!" He warned before stooping, aiming and letting off one round to the ground just in front of the suspect. He never believed in the whole `shoot-to-kill' clause they were taught from training. If he could get him down and tackle him, no one had to know he missed on purpose.

Tasuki stepped onto the ledge, turning back to look at the cop. "Congratulations, never met anybody what could almost keep up with me." he saluted with his middle finger. "'Cept Tama a'course."

He walked along the edge, knowing instinctively that he was in no danger of being shot. "So, which do ya want more? To take me in, or gettin' home with no paperwork?"

Tama... he shook off the familiarity of the name.

The officer made an irritated noise in his throat, "What are you going to do, jump? What's so important that would be worth that huh?" He stepped closer to him. "Just come down and give me back what you took and I won't even report this." He bargained with him. Gods he didn't want to have a suicide on his hands.

Tasuki smirked and stepped to the side, his heels hanging over the edge of the roof. “Jump? Well, hell yeah, less ya wanna lemme borrow them fuckin' angel wings ya got there. Ya tryin' to con me, Saint Cop?” he sneered and crouched on the edge of the roof, balancing on the balls of his feet.

“This book is my ticket outta here; it's mine. I ain't givin' you jack-shit.” He smirked and pulled the thin volume out of his coat, waving the book at the cop. Tasuki hopped off of the ledge and walked towards the man pursuing him. “Catch ya later, Saint Cop.”

He winked and darted to the side, around the cop and back for the stairs.

Sargent Kishuku had had enough of this playtime. The guy darted around him and tried to make a break for it. "No you don't." He growled and shot out an arm, grabbing the other man's elbow.

He sunk down low and hooked his knee around the speedy legs, sweeping them out from under the criminal. In seconds the man was on his belly on the hard gravel of the rooftop with his arm pinned behind him.

"You have the right to remain silent, anymore smartass remarks can and will be held against you...." He rattled off the rights and positioned his knee in the man's back as he unhooked the handcuffs from his belt.

Gods this man was either crazy or dumb as a brick to go to jail over a book.

Tasuki growled and bucked his hips up, trying to dislodge the cop from his back. "Get offa me! I ain't into alla that S&M bullshit!" He jerked on his arms, straining to pull them out of the iron grip.

He got one knee under him and pushed up, struggling to pull the other under him and get an advantage. His beanie hat was sliding to the side, and the skin of his cheek pinged with pain. The gravel of the roof was digging into his face. "Get OFF!"

"Gods, you're being arrested, you don't get to make demands."

Usually busts went smoothly thanks to his unique martial arts abilities, but he was getting more and more irritated by the second. It was taking all his strength to deal with this one.

He got one hand cuffed and reached out to the other when he spotted the book that all this fuss was over. Just plain leather bound book. It looked old and tattered. Something struck him about that book, something deep and ... red.

Getting both knees under him he jerked hard on his un-cuffed wrist and shoved them over. He fought his way around to face the cop, his hat falling off in the fray and the cop's hand still pushing his wrist into his lower back. Tasuki growled down into the furious eyes glaring up at him. "Saint Cop, yer really startin' to piss me... off?"

That face! He knew that face! His eyes went wide as he stopped struggling. He simply lay there, staring down into a face that had haunted him. "Tamahome?"

The cop was flipped to the ground and stared angrily up at the criminal. No one pinned him, ever. Then the man stopped struggling and said... his name? Sargent Tamahome Kishuku raised an eyebrow and shot a weary look up at the red head. He looked familiar; maybe he had met him on the street or in a bar somewhere, but... no.

He took the moment of confusion to get his heel under him and pushed off hard, his own hat toppled to the ground. He grabbed for his wrist and just managed to get the cuff to click.

He let out a breath of relief knowing that the man's hands were bound, but stayed on top of him, making sure he wouldn't run again.

"Alright buddy, ready to give up?"

Tamahome leaned over and grabbed the book and his hat. Settling the latter on his head and opening the former to see what could be worth so much trouble.

Tasuki blinked, looking up at Tamahome with a frown. "You don't remember me? That's so mean! By Suzaku's balls, yer dumb. How do ya forget ME?!" Tasuki bucked his hips up, trying to dislodge his memory-deficient friend. "And get out from between my legs, Tama, else I'll start thinkin' yer tryin' t'repay me fer bangin' ya so much back then." he smirked and bumped his hips up again.

"My name's Sargent Kishuku. You must have me mixed up with someone else." He only half lied to get the man off his guard. "Now we're going to take a nice ride in my car."

The officer got up off of the other man's chest and lifted him up by the collar. "Come with me." It was hard, more than it should be, to not be affected by the insistence of recognition. Tamahome blinked, fighting the blush that rose to his cheeks. This guy wasn't going to get his guard down at this point, no matter what obscene jokes he made. He was going to throw every violation he could at this guy, including indecent exposure for those tight leather pants.

More than a few people he had caught tried to wiggle out of getting arrested by claiming they were old friends of the family or what not, but there was something about that name. Suzaku... Who was that? And that hair seemed like it should be familiar too.

Sargent Kishuku narrowed his eyes and studied the smirking thief.

Tasuki laughed, "Sargent Tama's gonna ride me in his car. Sounds kinky." he winked and grinned wide, his fangs flashing in the sparse moonlight. "Aww, ya look damned adorable with that blush there, Tama-chan."

He laughed again; he was really getting to him! Hell, half of what came out of his mouth was just for fun; the rest was nearly true though. He just wasn't sure about what parts were true. "Okay, wait, Tama. Ya got my book back. Lemme go. No harm no foul. Nothin's broken; nothin else is missin'. Or do ya wanna spend more time with me?" he smirked again.

Tamahome clapped the book shut. If this guy didn't stop calling him by his first name, he would shoot him instead of arrest him. Just to keep dignity, he kept silent and led the man to the patrol car. He'd do the questioning in there. He didn't trust this guy outside of locked doors.

"You are aware I gave you the right to remain silent, right?" he said as he opened the squad car's back door and pushed the man down by that brightly colored and oh so familiar hair.

"I only remain silent when my mouth is busy with other things." Tasuki stuck his tongue out lewdly. If being arrested were this fun, he would have to be sure to get arrested more often... as long as it was Tama doing the arresting. Maybe he should see about getting a set of handcuffs...

The door slamming in his face made him frown, but he waited until Tamahome got in the front seat to protest. "How ya gonna ride me from up there? Change yer mind about bein' in the car, Tama-chan?" This was too fun; Tamahome made it far too easy to get away with remarks like that.

Maybe Tamahome really didn't recognize him. Maybe this wasn't the Tamahome he remembered. He went silent and looked at his feet. "I guess you really don't remember me. Guess being closer than brothers doesn't mean as much to you as it did to me." he mumbled under his breath.

"If you're really looking for someone to ride you, you'll find plenty in your cell." Tamahome turned around in his seat to face the cage and the man behind it. He took off his hat and flung it on the seat next to him, running a hand through his teal hair.

"You're going to tell me your name and explain why you think I should know you. I'm actually looking forward to this story." He smirked, now that the man was safely locked away, he felt comfortable to joke around again.

Tasuki sighed and lifted patient golden eyes to Tamahome. "It might be fun to see if'n you can figure out who I am on yer own. I get finger printed when I'm arrested, na? Ain't it gonna be funny when nothing turns up on me? Not even a birth record?"

He winced and shifted in his seat, scooting down and slipping the cuffs around to the front of his body; a pretty hard task seeing as how the leather was wanting to keep his legs down instead of allowing him the freedom to move.

"Fine." He sighed and turned back around, putting the car into gear and driving off. "If that's how you want to do it."

The neighborhood slipped by silently. Most people not even up to have heard the single gun shot, and those who had been curious enough to look out their windows, had given up and gone back to bed.

"No chance you could tell me what was so important about this book, huh?" He held up the tattered book and glanced at the title. "Universe of the four Gods?" He said in wonder more to himself that to the man in the back seat. He remembered that name. It was important, and suddenly he felt like it was the most important book he had ever put his hands on.

Tasuki grinned as he reached down into his boots, seeming to be only leaning on his knees. His fingers dipped into the upper pouch he'd had put there and pulled free a lock-pick, which he quickly set about putting to good use. "Nope, Tama, I ain't tellin' you why it's so fuckin' important. Ya can't bring yerself to remember me; ya got no clue about the book... Are ya really my Tamahome?" he said loudly, trying to cover the sounds of the cuffs unlocking.

He growled to cover the clink of the metal as he slowly set the cuffs on the floorboard of the car and shoved his lock pick back into his boot. "How can ya not remember me?" he leaned towards the steel mesh separating them, looking longingly at the book.

"Well, you do look familiar, I'll give you that. Sit back." he warned. "It would be nice to have a name to go with the face though." He tried to goad the man into telling him his name. "I said sit back." he instructed again, when he saw that there was red hair right behind him.

Tasuki smirked and blew in Tamahome's ear. "Tasuki." he whispered, then gripped the steel mesh with both hands. He made it blatantly obvious that the cuffs were gone and waited to see how long it would take Tamahome to realize it.

He blew across the back of Tamahome's neck, a smirk lighting his face. This was fun. It had always been fun to tease Tama; he just hadn't teased him in this way before.

Tamahome closed his eyes and held his breath, trying hard to fight the blush. He was always fairly susceptible to sexual pranks, and the guys at the station had pulled more than a few on him because of it. He had actually gotten this treatment from a few prostitutes he had to pick up, hoping they would get off easy if they could get him off, so he was sadly not surprised by the sensation over his neck.

He batted at the cage behind him, came to a stop sign and put the car in park. Tamahome craned his neck to glare at 'Tasuki' and saw that the man's hands were out of the cuffs.

"Wha?" He silently cursed himself. He had gone through so much trouble to get the cuffs on him that he had forgotten to pat him down. He must have lock pick tools on him, how else did he get into the library so quietly?

"Move to the other side of the car please, and place your hands on your head." He instructed the man as he got out of the car himself and ready to back track in the arresting procedure. He put his hand to the gun at his hip and waited for Tasuki to move over before he opened the door, praying that this lunatic wasn't the guy who would end his life.

Tasuki smirked and moved to the opposite side of the car, away from the door Tamahome had opened, and put his hands on the roof. "Come on in. I was gettin' lonely."

He waited until Tamahome leaned forward and wrapped his legs around Tama's neck, pulling him into the car and in to his lap. "Gotcha. You cops never stop to realize that legs ain't just for walkin'." He pulled Tama's head tighter into his belly.

Hi heart nearly stopped as he was dragged into his own car. He tried to slip his hands through the tight grip and push his head free, but Tasuki held fast. He struggled and pushed against the seat, the hot leather of Tasuki's pants sticking to his chin as he pried himself free.

Finally, he got his knee under him and he lifted up sharply, dragging Tasuki flat against the cushions of the back seat. He moved his leg around to the man's belly and forced his neck out of the death grip. Swinging his legs over, he straddled Tasuki and grabbed of his wrists again with the cuffs.

Tasuki wriggled, sliding towards the open door. He kept his hands moving, pulling them this way and that to keep Tamahome's attention away from their backward sliding movements. He bumped up his hips, a grin stretching his lips. "See, I knew you was gonna ride me in the back of yer car, Tama-chan."

He tugged one hand free and gripped Tamahome's hip, intending to force him over his head so that he could leap out and slam the door without having Tamahome come after him. Unfortunately once he gripped that slim hip, moving it away was the farthest thing from his mind. "I was jokin' earlier, 'bout ya riding me. But," he tightened his grip slightly, still sliding slowly towards the door. "I'll definitely take it, if you're offering."

He looked up calmly; mirth was gone from his eyes.

Tamahome tensed up, was this guy serious? He looked down into the golden eyes and it was pretty clear that he was. "I don't think my girlfriend would appreciate that, Tasuki,” he said, more serious than he had expected it to come out.

He put his hands to his waist and pulled off Tasuki's hands, clicking on the cuffs again. "But I will be patting you down for any other hidden tools." he moved off of Tasuki's hips and dragged him out of the car, pushing him belly down over the trunk of the car, readjusting the cuffs to behind Tasuki and kicking his feet wide.

Tasuki lay his head against the back of the patrol car, a frown on his face. Why had he been so serious? He didn't like women all that much, but it didn't mean he liked men. He'd never felt a pull to anybody like this though... it had to be because Tamahome was part of the book too.

He nodded to himself; yes that had to be it. It was just the pull because they knew each other, nothing else. He was looking at things too physically. But it still made him frown to hear about the girlfriend.

He complied quietly, knowing that the slim pockets in his boots didn't bulge enough for anyone to know they were there. Tamahome had known, but that was because he'd seen him grab things out of there before.

He bounced his forehead against the trunk of the car, feeling very exposed. He'd chosen the leather pants because they looked great on him, the minor detail that he'd forgotten until the moment his legs were spread was that he couldn't wear undergarments with them if he wanted them to look right.

A blush rose to his cheeks as he realized that Tamahome was probably getting a really good look at his bottom, he cursed the conforming leather to the lowest pit of hell.

Sargent Kishuku patted down Tasuki, not that there was much to hide in the pant this guy had chosen to wear. He knew that thieves in movies and books always liked leather, but he had to wonder if it gave anyone a real advantage, or if it was just an underground staple.

"You know, there are plenty of people in this world that look similar. Did you ever stop and think that I'm not this guy you think I am?" He ran his hands down Tasuki's leg. "It might save you a bit of trouble in the future, Tasuki."

Tasuki growled as firm hands moved over him; this was not happening. He banged his head against the trunk of the car with every tingle that moved through him, harder this time than the light bouncing from before. 'Don't think about it, don't think about it! Its just part of his job! He ain't feeling me up. Just don't think about it!'

There wasn't anything on this guy but tight leather. He straightened up and began to reach out for Tasuki's arm, but stopped as something occurred to him. He had something in his boots, check the boots.

Tamahome knelt down and stuck a finger into the top of one, felt around the rim. Nothing. The other came up with something though, a small pouch on the inside of the boot with a small metal pick within it. Amazing, this guy actually must have done this before to have special hiding places for tools. He wouldn't have even thought of it if it weren't for.... What was it for?

"Clever." he said as he tossed the pick in the air and caught it again. "Ok back in."

When Tamahome paused before reaching into his boots, all thought moved from trying to hide from his reactions to the singular thought that this definitely was Tamahome. His Tamahome.

"It is you, Tama!" he cried as he spun to face the man behind him. "Only you would've known to look in my fuckin' boots for tools. Tell me that ya remember me now?" he begged, completely forgetting about the reaction his body had had due to the frisking he'd just gone through.

Tamahome stepped back, ready for another attack, but it looked more like the man was going to hug him rather than hit him. "You, you had to get out of the cuffs somehow." He tried to rationalize to himself as he explained to Tasuki. "Since you definitely aren't hiding anything..." He stopped; he had looked down to indicate Tasuki's pants, and any doubt that the man had been kidding before disappeared. He cleared his throat, trying to remain professional, "Definitely aren't hiding anything in your clothes, it was an obvious conclusion, baka."

He stopped himself again. That last word had just slipped out, and it felt natural, like he had called him that a million times before, but it wasn't something a policeman, even an extremely frustrated and confused one, should call a poor confused lunatic. "Just get in the car. I'd really like to hear your story on the way to the station. If it's good, maybe I won't book you."

Tasuki sighed and hung his head. "I don't wanna get in the goddamned car, Tamahome. I want you to fuckin' remember me." he planted his feet wide, almost as if daring Tamahome to make him move.

"I can't tell ya the story, you'd have to know the story. It's in yer fuckin' pea brain if ya just fuckin' think about it! How'd ya know t'look in my boots? And don't give me that shit about a hunch or just realizin' I don't got pockets. I got plenty of places to hide things, why the boots? Why th' lip of th' boot? Ya knew it was there! Fuckin' admit it!"

He leaned back against the car, maneuvering to pull his hands in front of himself again.

Tamahome steadied his gun on him. "Stop moving." He said, the humor drained from his voice.

This guy must be crazy; he was trying to get out of the handcuffs right in front of him. He shouldn't be using such force to take in a simple thief, but this guy wasn't right. He started to worry that there might be something crucial he was missing. His mind panicked, wondering if there was a bomb somewhere in that quiet little town. "You're going to stop what you're doing and get in the car and then I'll tell you how I knew, Tasuki." He held the gun steady and motioned with his head for Tasuki to sit.

Tasuki growled and stopped, shaking his head. "Fine, I'll just add 'em to my collection in th' car." he shrugged and turned around to crawl in the backseat. He stared at Tamahome for a moment then moved his hands up behind him, searching for the spare lock pick he kept tied to a string around his neck. It had fallen over his shoulder when Tamahome had moved him back against the seat.

He kept his eyes trained on Tamahome's, waiting for his chance to escape again. There was no way in hell he was going to jail.

He slammed the door on the lunatic, and his breathing regulated again. Tamahome sat down in the front seat, but didn't turn the car on. Instead, he turned in his seat and decided to do some interrogating right here.

"Tasuki." he started. "Do you have a last name?"

Tasuki shrugged, pulling the lock-pick from the string and began to work on the locks again. "Kou, but ya won't find any records of me. I'm tellin' ya, I don't exist anywhere in this fuckin' world! Now gimme my goddamned book and let me go home!"

The locks clicked and he dangled the cuffs in front of Tamahome's eyes. "Told ya that I had other places to hide shit."

Tamahome sighed, "You still can't get out of the back seat with out me opening the door." He rubbed his eyes, the more bits of information he got, the less this night seemed like it was going to end.

"So you live in the book do you?" He asked the crazy man, knowing the answer would be yes.

Tasuki sneered, clipping the cuffs to the steel mesh. "I could get outta th' car, but it would take too long an' you'd be able t'shoot me before I got it open. I'm not stupid."

He growled, "And so do you, Tama-chan. But ya don't remember none a that. Ya don't remember bein' my... friend, almost close enough t'be brothers. So, what does it matter if'n ya believe me or not. Not like you'd accept proof if'n I gave it to ya." He turned his head, looking out the window. "Fine, keep th' book. Just let me out. I'll get Mi-chan t'wish me home. If'n I can find her..."

"Mi-chan?" He narrowed his eyes at him. "Who's that?" He asked.

Maybe he asked because he could get a lead on an accomplice. That's what he told himself, but he knew why he really asked. Too many coincidences, he had to make sure he wasn't right.

"Yuuki Miaka, Suzaku no Miko." Tasuki replied bluntly. This was getting tiresome and he wanted out of the damned car.

It wasn't everyday you found your best friend only to find out he has no idea who you are. He needed time to figure it out, to make that realization not hurt so much. To figure out why he was reacting the way he was. Was it something left over from the book?

No... Oh no!

"How do you know her?!" He hadn't meant to spill the fact that he had gotten her name exactly right, but the fear and panic in his chest blurted it out before he could hold it back. He turned all the way around in his seat, kneeling to face his prisoner. His eyes were fierce, as he asked again. "How do you know her name? Who are you really?"

All bets were off, he had lost the upper hand at the mention of his girlfriend's name, so he might as well finish up the questions. "How do you know my name, and why do I know you and this book?"

Tasuki smirked, "Come back here an' talk to me. I don't like not bein' able t'see all a yer face. I promise, I'll be good. No touching, no fighting. I won't even try to escape. Bandit's honor." he winked and smiled wide.

At the disbelieving stare he received, he nodded. "Okay, so I don't expect ya to trust my word. But, I c'n tell ya something about you that only you and Mi-chan know. How's that? I tell ya something, and if I'm right, you come back here. If I'm wrong, you can cuff me and take me to jail. Deal?"

He titled his head and regarded him from the corner of his eye. He didn't know if he liked that deal, but if this guy knew about Miaka, then there was a chance he could hurt her if the charges didn't stick. And there were always loopholes the damn lawyers found in the law.

"Fine." He said carefully. "It better be something that no one could possibly find out or guess either."

Tasuki smirked and leaned forward, nearly pressing his nose to the steel mesh. "You have an uncontrollable desire for money. Any way you can come up with to make cash quick or be secure is always your top priority, aside from Mi-chan, a'course. Ya had younger siblings an' a real sick dad and hadda be th' one to support 'em. Yer Ma died when you was 11."

Tamahome's expression slowly turned from suspicious to bewildered as his life was rattled off to him. No, this guy must have some way of finding out information, some way of knowing these things, but how could he have known that he would be the cop that would arrest him, how could he have prepared for that?

A prank, this must have been a prank, all the sexual innuendo, it fit for something his fellow officers would do. Even the grand scale of it. It was plausible, except for the fact that he hadn't ever told them anything about his siblings. Due to the fact that he had looked for their records a while ago and couldn't find they ever existed.

"One more question," He almost hesitated to ask. "Their names, give me their names and I'll let you off if you tell me the rest of what you know, you have my word on that."

Tasuki smiled again, nodding his head. "Yuiren, Chuei, Gyokuran, and Shunkei." he batted his lashes prettily. "That convincin' enough for ya?"

He crossed his arms and sat back, waiting to see what Tamahome would do.

He swallowed hard, Tasuki's words hit him like arrows in his chest. He had had memories of them, each one of them. Memories of raising them and terrible memories of finding them dead in his home.

Troubled by the thoughts of his family, he had gone to the municipal building to find out about them when he became a cop, determined to find their killer and set right their tragically early deaths. He had come up with nothing. No records of their birth or death, no records of where he remembered living. It was like they never existed.

That was when he had started questioning how he had even come to Tokyo. It seemed all his memories were fake, but this. This guy, who claimed to know him, and knew everything about people who didn't exist.

Tamahome could feel his hands trembling as he opened his door and got out. He opened the back door and waited for Tasuki to step out.

Lunatic or not he had given him his word.

"You can ride up front with me. I have to sign out." He said in a daze. "After that, you're coming back to my apartment and telling me what you know."

Tasuki smirked, "So ya believe me now?" he asked as he climbed out of the backseat. "Arright, I'll be a good little bandit an' just agree. Dunno why we'd go t'yer house, wouldn't it be better t'grab Mi-chan an' go home? All of us?"

He climbed over the driver's seat and all of the equipment and settled in the passenger's seat. He eyed the shotgun set in the holster strapped to the side of the computer. "Ick, fuckin' guns. I hate them fuckin' things."

"They're useful." He said deadpan, as he got in himself and put the car in drive.

The rest of the drive to the station house was silent, Tamahome just trying to process what he was just told. He got out, grabbed the book, told Tasuki which car was his in the parking lot, locked up and signed out. He ignored the random good-bye's he got from the late night workers and just unlocked his car and got in.

The daze was lifting as they neared his apartment. He parked and led Tasuki up the stairs. Unlocking the door, he walked in and slipped off his shoes. Miaka's pair weren't by the door yet. He wondered vaguely if she would be by tonight, or if she hadn't bothered because of the late hour.

When he got to the living room he flopped down on the floor and looked up to the half stranger he had picked up.

"So, tell me everything you know."

Tasuki followed along silently, going where motioned and keeping to himself. He waited until they were in the tiny apartment before he spoke again. "Nice place, Tama." he mumbled as he shifted uncomfortably.

Standing beside the door, he crossed his arms and leaned back against the thick wood. "Okay, we're from a place called Konan in th' land of the four gods. We served a god named Suzaku. Miaka was our Miko. Dunno a whole lot, but I remember you. I remember ya hated me or ya acted like ya did most times, and you an' Miaka was dating. You two wanted t'get married, but I think there was a rule against it or something. Not too sure."

He furrowed his brow in thought, trying to remember what they were called. Sei-something. It was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't spit it out. "Sorry I ain't the best with details."

"Konan...Suzaku." he repeated the words, tasting them and they felt right.

He fell back onto the floor, resting his back for a bit as he thought. He smiled, the first real one since he went to check out the library. Even in this other world Miaka and he were together, that was a nice thought.

"Suzaku, the phoenix." He murmured. His eyes closed trying to remember, he could see the memories he still had of his family dance before his minds eye. That's right. They weren't in Japan at all.

Things started making sense. He suddenly saw Tasuki, in a blue coat with a fan. His eyes shot open and he turned his head towards the man at his door, just to make sure he still looked the way he last left him. "I didn't hate you." He said.

Tasuki smirked, "Ya sure could'a fooled me. Ya know how many times I hadda bug that doc for wraps an' herbs t'heal my ribs? Ya sure packed a mean... wait." his eyes went wide, his jaw slack. He blinked several times before a relieved smile curled his lips.

"You remember me." he slid down the door and hugged his knees to his chest, hiding a smile and happy tears in his folded arms. He was relieved. His friend knew him.

"I don't remember everything about you, just little bits. Like, you had a fan, and yes we were like brothers. " He said sitting up and stretching. "But at least I know you're not going to blow up the town with some crazy bomb." He stood up and moved to the kitchen. "Do you want anything? Miaka usually comes by after my shifts are over, but she might be busy tonight with schoolwork. Or," He poured water into the tea kettle, "She got tired of waiting because I took so long."

He eyed Tasuki, letting him know damn well that he was a pain in the ass tonight. The flame flickered on the stove and he set the kettle to boil.

Tasuki shook his head, wiped his eyes and got to his feet. "Nah, you gots Mi-chan to go an' see. I'm just gonna head out. Gotta get to work tomorrow, an' I really need sleep if I'm gonna make it."

He grinned wide, eyes closing and flashing his fangs. "See ya around? Maybe I can see Mi-chan some time? Just to say hi." he moved over to where the book lay and reached out for it.

Tamahome snapped out his hand and grabbed Tasuki's wrist.

"You can't just drop this load of bricks on me and then say 'see ya'. No way. You're staying. Miaka won't be around tonight and I want you here with me to figure this out." He paused. "Do you think she remembers her life before she came here?"

Tasuki flinched, then sighed, hanging his head. "Damnit, Tama, I just wanna get outta this fuckin' world. Ya got no idea how fuckin' hard it is to have..." he bit the inside of his cheek, shaking off Tamahome's grip.

"Fine, I'll stay. But, I don't want you tryin' none of that tai chi bullshit like ya used to. I'm outta shape. This world is too soft." he grumbled and pried his eyes off of the book. He wanted that book, wanted to go home. But it seemed that Tamahome was determined to stay here and keep him as well.

Tamahome bit his bottom lip, trying to decide what to do. "You make me nervous around the book, just go sit down and I'll get you some t.... " He smiled. "I'll get you some sake."

If Tasuki knew a way to get back to the real world, he was going to go with him, and bring Miaka back too, but he had to be sure that it was the right decision. After all. Which world was the real one? Which one was he more needed in?

"Err, uh, don't go takin' what all I said earlier t'heart, arright? I got no designs on ya. I was just messin' with ya. Ya know, tryin' to get ya to let me go. No need t'be nervous." He smiled wide, showing a lot of teeth and scratching the back of his neck.

"Trust me, I'm still the same as before; still hate women, don't like men neither. I just say that kinda stuff t'throw people off. You should'a seen me when I first realized what the hell Jeice was talkin' about when he tried t'pick me up- but ya don't gotta know that."

He was babbling, why did it always seem he babbled like an idiot when someone made him nervous? He clamped his lips shut and scrubbed a hand over his face. This was so not his night.

Tamahome brought over a bottle of sake and a small cup. He raised an eyebrow quizzically at Tasuki. "What are you talking about? I meant you being around the book made me nervous, but don't worry about what happened earlier. People have done it to me before. You'd be surprised what people offer in exchange for not going to jail."

He sat down with a cup of tea for himself and poured Tasuki a bowl of what he could remember was the man's favorite drink. "Never let anyone go, though. Yours just happened to be the most convincing I've ever heard." he thought back in his string of arrests.

Tasuki blinked, "Oh, oh, gotcha." he blushed and scratched his head again. "Sorry, I kinda didn't hear that part about bein' around th'book. Thought ya meant I made ya nervous bein' around you." He laughed and pushed the sake away nervously.

He folded his hands on the table and waited for Tamahome to finish his drink. "Ya always work the library?"

Tamahome blew on the hot liquid and shook his head. "I was covering for a buddy of mine, but even so, I don't think anyone regularly..." he stopped mid sentence and studied Tasuki. "Are you planning on stealing more books?"

Tasuki shook his head, "Nah, just that one. I wanna go home. I been lookin' all over Tokyo for that goddamned book since I got here a year ago." he got to his feet, moving to the large window facing the back of the building.

"I been patient, now I want to go home and forget this stupid, disgusting, lecherous place ever existed." he gazed at the silver half moon, leaning against the window frame.

Tamahome frowned, feeling hurt. This was a world he protected. Even if it might be a not so great place, the people that lived here deserved someone to make it better. He wanted to explain it, but somehow he didn't quite know if he really wanted to.

He got up and walked over to where Tasuki stood and stared out of the window. "Tasuki, how did you get here?" He asked, hoping that he might gain some insight as to how he got here as well.

Tasuki shrugged, "Just woke up here one morning." he answered, and his face turned to the sky. "It really sucked. And I ain't got all of my memories. Just pieces. I can't remember nobody's names, but yours. You always stuck out in my head. Dunno, maybe it was cause we used t'be close."

He smiled wide, his eyes closing. "But that don't matter. It's done and I wanna go back home. It sucks here, an' it sucks that people..." he shrugged again and wandered back to the table, eyeing the cup of sake warily and then casting a strange look back at Tamahome.

He kept his mouth shut.

"That people what?" He prodded. "I get that you liked the mountains and your home, but what happened here that made you so dead set against maybe staying?"

Tasuki laughed and grinned wide again. "Nothin', this place just stinks. I want my mountain, I wanna be back where you can sleep without hearin' th' whores down th' hall screamin' cause their customers beat on 'em. I wanna go back where men don't worry 'bout things like how someone else is lookin' at 'em. I hate this place."

He moved to the door, "Sorry Tama, I gotta go. Work in the mornin'."

"Where do you work?" He asked, the picture starting to come together. "I've got an extra mat for you to sleep on, and I could drive you there if you wanted when I go in." He made his way to the door with Tasuki. It didn't feel right just letting him leave, but he looked jittery as hell.

Tasuki shrugged, "Somewhere. Don't worry 'bout it. It's nothin'. Can't go puttin' ya out like that; Mi-chan would be upset if she knew ya... err, well if I stayed." He gripped the knob and turned it, knowing he'd be in deep trouble if what he did for a living got out, especially to a cop.

"I'll see ya around. I'll be back after," he paused, licking dry lips, "after my shift ends."

"Ok Tasuki. If you really don't want to stay that's fine. It wouldn't be a big deal, but I understand. I would really like for you to come back. I think we should figure this out together, and tomorrow Miaka will be around." He stepped out of the way of the door and saw his old-new friend out. "Oh and Tasuki," he knew it had to be right, putting all the pieces together. "I won't pick you up if I see you working."

Tasuki gulped and hung his head. He dashed out the door without a word and didn't stop until he made it back to his place three miles away.

Tamahome watched as Tasuki ran away. He shook his head, maybe he shouldn't have let on that he knew, but he wanted Tasuki to know that he understood. He hoped Tasuki would be back, maybe even tonight.

He shut the door and walked into the living room again. He decided the best way to start was to get out of work mode and into himself again. He took off his badge and undid the buttons on his shirt, flinging the blue top over the couch. His pants followed soon after.

Getting out of his uniform felt wonderful. He sighed and picked up the tea he had abandoned on the coffee table. Walking it over to the window, he looked out at the moon Tasuki had been staring at. Which world did he really belong to now?

Tasuki slammed the door to his flat, ignoring the other two guys that shared his living space as they called out greetings and asked about his night. He went to his pallet and lay face down, horror and shame engulfed him. Tamahome knew. How was he going to face him again?

Jeice sat down on the side of Tasuki's bed, scooting the smaller guy over to lie beside him. "Hard night?"

Tasuki shook his head, pressing his face into the mat. "Met an old friend. He figured out what I do. Don't wanna talk about it."

Jeice pet Tasuki's hair, "Ya fuck him for free? Better not let Jun find out, he'd kill you." He pushed Tasuki over on to his back. "Need me to help ya forget?"

Tasuki sat up and shoved at Jeice, pushing him off of the mat. "No. I didn't touch him an' I don't need nobody to touch me. Ya know I hate doin' this shit. It's fuckin' gross." he got to his feet and stepped over Jeice. He paced back and forth, carding his hands through his hair and chewing his lower lip. "I gotta say I'm sorry. Cover for me, Jeice. Tell Jun I'm on an all night deal."

At Jeice's smirk and nod, Tasuki left the apartment.

Tamahome gave up looking out the window. No answers were coming to him there. He took his cup to the nightstand and pressed the flashing message button.

Miaka's angry voice filled his apartment. Not two but five messages scolding him in increasingly worried tones for being out late. At first she joked about going out to the bar with the guys, and at the last message she sounded near tears.

He picked up the phone and looked at the time. It was late, too late to call her, but she sounded so worried.

He decided a sleepy Miaka was easier to deal with and a worried one and pushed the speed dial for her dorm room.

Sure enough he got her roommate instead. Tamahome grimaced when Yui's sleep-filled voice answered.

"Oh Yui-san, I'm sorry to wake you. Miaka had left a few messages and I thought she might be worried." Apparently he thought wrong.

"She was, but she ate herself into an angry food coma. I don't think she even remembers your name now, Tamahome." Yui yawned on the other end. "I'll tell her you called in the morning."

"Thank you, I appreciate it. Sorry again for waking you."

They both said their goodnights and he hung up. He stared at the bed. He had been tired before the library incident, but now his mind wouldn't let him sleep. He paced for a bit and then thought of something he hadn't done in awhile. Tai chi. He used to do it all the time in... in Konan.

Tamahome shook his head and walked to the middle of his floor and began slowly.

Tasuki stood staring at the door for twenty minutes. His hand raised to knock and would fall back to his side. He couldn't do it. He was so embarrassed at having been found out that he wanted to apologize, but it seemed that when they'd broken his will to fight back, they'd broken his courage as well.

He was getting angry with himself, what kind of man was he? It was a door, for Kami sakes! All he had to do was knock, bow and apologize, beg for the book, and leave. That was it. He could do this! He could!

His hand raised to knock and he tapped gently at the wood, nowhere near loud enough to be heard if Tamahome was sleeping. He frowned and shook his head as he turned to go, Tamahome probably would have laughed him out of the building anyway.

He hadn't gotten very far in his practice when he heard a knock on the door. It was so soft he was barely certain that's what it was, but he went to check anyway. He opened the door on Tasuki's back as he had turned to leave.

“Tasuki," he called out to him, "Come in.” He stood aside and waited for him to accept the offer.

Tasuki gulped and turned to Tamahome, his face down. "Gomen kudasai, Tamahome-san, I didn't want you to know." he bowed from the waist, settling his eyes on the bare feet that stood across from him. "May I please borrow that book long enough to go home?"

He stayed in that position as he waited for Tamahome's answer.

"Would you stop being a moron and come in already?" Tamahome answered and wouldn't move or accept his apology until he came inside.

Tasuki straightened and nodded, scooting around Tamahome and into the apartment. He stood beside the door and took up his previous stance of leaning against the wall, his eyes anywhere but on his friend.

"So, just uh, loan it to me for a few minutes? I got Jeice to cover for me, so nobody's gonna come lookin' until around noon." he said with as much of a bland tone as he could muster.

Was Tamahome disgusted? He sounded irritated when he'd spoken, but Tasuki never really was good at picking up on nuances of tone. It was either happy, seductive, or pissed off. He'd heard pissed off enough to gather that Tamahome wasn't far from that state.

Tamahome closed the door behind him and went to the nightstand where the book was laying. "I'm glad you came back. I was hoping you would." He picked up the book and walked over to Tasuki with it. "So, I guess if you insist on going now, we'll be Miaka-less, but what do I need to bring?"

Tasuki blinked at Tamahome, "Whaa? No, no, you don't gotta come with me. You got a great thing here, why screw that up?" he furrowed his brows, cocking his head to the side in confusion. "Why would ya wanna go back there, anyway? Its not like you're in my situation, so why?" he glanced away as he spoke, moving to the window again to stare sightlessly at the ground far below.

Tamahome moved away from the door, but didn't go up to where Tasuki had settled.

"Tasuki, you started bringing back memories of a life that I'm pretty sure was my real one. I, I just don't know if I'm ready to go back to not knowing about those things yet, and this world seems kind of..." He searched for the right word. "Thin now."

He picked up the tea had had poured a few hours ago and took a sip. It was stone cold and tasted horrible. He made a face, and brought it to the sink to dump it out.

"This apartment, my job." he said as he stood, leaning against the sink's edge, "It all seems like it's falling apart, slowly as I start to remember small bits of my other life."

He didn't know really how else to explain the distant feeling he had started to get since Tasuki had spoken the names of his siblings.

Tasuki nodded and put his hand to the glass, "Thin or not, you have a real life. People you know, people who care when you come home late. You know what I have? I have an owner. Someone who only cares about the money I bring in. It doesn't matter if I crawl back, broken and bleeding, as long as I come back with cash in my pocket."

He turned to Tamahome again, flicking a quick glance around the apartment. "You have a life where you matter."

Tamahome nodded slowly and turned to rest his hip against the counter. "I know. I just don't know if I can continue living it now that I know where I'm from." He pushed off and walked up to the window where Tasuki stood.

"Let's just wait for Miaka tomorrow, I'll have tonight to think about it. I think I deserve at least that for having my world turned upside down and shuffled. You can stay here. You don't have to go back to that place."

"Here? I dunno if that's a good idea. Jun's got eyes everywhere. He'll know if I stay here an' don't... uh, work." he shifted uncomfortably, his face heating up as he looked at the floor. "I'll sleep in the car. That way I c'n just tell him I got a raw deal an' was too tired to walk back."

He scooted to the side, away from Tamahome. "C'n I get some water, please?" his throat was dry from speaking so much, he'd spoken more in that one night than he'd spoken in three months. "Just water. Clear glass if ya have it."

"Sure." Tamahome went to the kitchen, opened up a cabinet and took out a tall glass. He filled it with cold water and brought it back for Tasuki.

"I doubt anyone saw you come in here, and if they are looking, I don't think they'd look for you in a cop's apartment." he put his hand on Tasuki's shoulder. "I'll protect you if you want me to, but I can't force you to stay."

He waited for an answer but was expecting an argument. People who have resigned themselves to that kind of life usually don't think they deserve any better than they're getting.

Tasuki inspected the water closely, as was his habit soon after his arrival in this world. "Okay, but if it starts some shit, it's not my fault." he mumbled as he lifted the glass to his lips and tasted the water, concentrating on the taste and texture of the water rather than what he was saying.

"I'll sleep by this window. Easier on me." he grinned and gulped the water down, glad to have the cool liquid. "Thanks, Tama."

Tamahome grinned, glad to have the company of a friend for the night.

"You know, I hate that nick name." He said more to grab hold of the nostalgic feeling it brought back than to tell Tasuki to stop. "If you're going to sleep by the window, close it at least. The less people who can see you the better."

Tamahome reached up and pulled the curtains shut with a metallic 'shing' noise.

Tasuki grinned and stepped back from the window. "I know, that's why I call ya that." He stuck his tongue out and moved around Tamahome to the kitchen, rinsing out the glass and setting it aside to dry.

"So, where's this pallet? I figure it's best if I get some sleep, unless ya wanna talk some more?" he looked hopeful, but knew Tamahome had probably been up for a long while.

"In the closet, I'll get it for you." He walked to the closet, slid open the door and hefted out the thick sleeping mat he kept. Laying it out on the floor, he glanced up at Tasuki. He wondered if the man had ever been treated like a human being since he came to this world. Tamahome made up the bed with spare sheets and threw on a few pillows.

"Hope that'll be comfortable for you." He said as he stood up and put his hands on his hips, observing his handiwork. "I was hoping to talk, but if you're tired..."

Tasuki smiled and shook his head. "Nah, I don't sleep much. Figure you had a long day an' wanted sleep, though. Bein' a cop is a hard job, na? 'Specially when ya got idiots like me to give ya a hard time." He winked and eased down on the mat.

He shrugged out of his coat and pulled up the edge of his turtleneck then paused, "You mind if I get comfortable? I c'n leave the shirt on if it makes ya uneasy."

Tamahome shrugged and indicated his own casual dress. "What ever makes you comfortable, Tasuki."

He jumped up, suddenly remembering something and running to the bed. "I have something you should see." He said excitedly as he shuffled the various items that lived under the bed.

He pulled out a plastic storage box and set it on the floor in front of Tasuki. “Open it up, I think you'll recognize it, cause I had no clue when I first got here."

Tasuki blinked down at the box and dropped the edge of his shirt, more interested in what was in the box rather than getting comfortable. "What is it?" he asked as he cautiously lifted the flaps of the box and peered in.

"I was walking, just walking one day and I got this lightheaded feeling, and I suddenly forgot where I was supposed to be going. I could only remember one thing, and that was that I had to find a girl named Miaka." Tamahome prefaced the coat as Tasuki pulled it out. "I couldn't even remember where I had come from, but I was wearing that at the time."

He settled back against the bottom of the bed frame. "It took me days to find her, and when I did, I didn't think she would even talk to me cause I looked like such a mess. But she took me in for awhile while I figured out where I lived."

Tasuki held up the tunic that he pulled from the box, his fingers sliding over the material as he closed his eyes. Memories of a time when he wasn't someone's slave flittered into his mind. Clenching that tunic as he and Tama argued over something small, patting his back and looking confused and sad while Tamahome told him about his family, grabbing hold of the back of his tunic to pull him away from the ice wall when they were in some sort of a cavern.

He lifted it to his nose and breathed deeply. It still smelled the same. He opened his eyes and smiled happily, "You, you used to wear this tunic all the time." he whispered, laying it over his lap and fingering the small, uneven stitches. "Yuiren and Shunkei made it for you, a birthday I think."

He grinned. "I don't have nothin' left, just my boots. Everything else... well, it wasn't fit to be wore after." His smile turned sad and he folded the tunic as gently as he could, putting it back in the box and closing the top.

Tamahome didn't know whether he had made things better or worse. "I didn't mean to bring back bad memories...I thought." He took the box and put it next to the bed, beside him. It felt as if he might remember if the box was close by. He looked compassionately at Tasuki as he sat across from him, uneasy on the bed.

Tasuki smirked, brushing aside the sadness. "Nah, don't worry 'bout it. It was nice to see that someone got to keep somethin' from home. An' I still got my boots! Never in a billion years would them fuckers get 'em from me. Ma gave 'em to me, Kouji put in the little pockets, an' they ain't left my feet for more than two days in a whole year."

Some of the old fire was sparking to life in him again. Some of the ice was melting. "Thanks for pickin' me up tonight, Tama. Sorry fer bein' an ass but I really didn't wanna deal with Jun if'n I got put in jail. I was supposed t'be uh, somewhere else." he grinned sheepishly and fiddled with the edge of his shirt again.

"Can I turn out the light so's I c'n take off my shirt?" He glanced at the switch, then back at Tamahome.

Tamahome quirked an eyebrow at him for a second before remembering his unpleasant work experiences. "Sure go ahead."

He nodded at the light switch on the wall and got up to lay back down on his bed. The night had been extremely eventful and he still didn't know where he stood. He had his duty as an officer, but there were other men like him that served to protect the people of this world. If he could take Miaka he wouldn't have to stay, but would she want to go? She had a family and friends here that she knew since childhood.

He stopped for a second in his thoughts. "Tasuki? Miaka has a family here. A family and a birth certificate. If when we came through we were just planted here..." he didn't want to finish the thought. Miaka was from this world. If that was true, then he couldn't ask her to leave her family to go with him.

Tasuki flipped the switch, breathing a sigh of relief. He did not want Tamahome to see the tattoo across his lower back. It had taken ages for Jun to coax him out of his corner after the initial 'recruitment' and he'd promised sake, food, and a nice long nap.

He'd gotten drugged and tattooed instead.

"Yeah, I know she does. Our Miko wasn't from our world." he replied as he glared down at the pants he wore. Not only was he going to be stuck wearing them for gods knew how long, but he'd have to sleep in them too. "She wanted t'live in our world with you, I think. But I think th'gods said no or something." he shrugged and crawled onto the mat. He flopped over on his belly, one hand searching under the pillow for a knife, but found none.

He shook his head and reminded himself that he didn't have to worry about being around Tama, he was safe for long enough to sleep.

Tamahome was silent. He didn't want to hear that answer. The more he heard about the other world he was truly part of, the more he yearned to go back and see it again. If Miaka had wished to stay here with him and that was the reason why he was here, then he wouldn't leave.

He found himself wishing he had never switched shifts with Daisuke, wishing he had never caught Tasuki, wishing he was never opened up to the flakes of memory he was starting to piece together.

Tamahome heard the rustling squeak of the leather as Tasuki settled into bed.

"You're going to wear those to sleep? I can't imagine breathing in them let alone being comfortable." He rolled over and rummaged in his drawers, pulling out a pair of cotton pajama pants and throwing them at Tasuki. "Put these on, you'll feel better."

Tasuki blinked and raised his head to question but ended up with a face full of pants instead. He grinned as he tugged them off of his head, "They ain't too bad; just can't wear nothin' under 'em. Ya sure ya want me to wear these? They feel kinda soft; I ain't used to soft stuff."

He hugged them to his chest as he sat up, hoping he'd be given permission to put them on. He shook his head at himself, how stupid did that sound? Asking if he could wear something that was given to him; he had truly been owned by Jun too long.

"Of course you can wear them, baka, why else would I have given them to you?" Tamahome grumbled in the dark and he rustled through his drawers again. Another piece of clothing landed on Tasuki's head. "You don't have to give those back, but don't go commando in my pants."

Tasuki laughed and flopped back on the bed, tugging the boxer shorts off of his head. "That's why I asked if'n ya wanted me t'wear them, Tama-chan. Damn, real boxer shorts? Shit, I ain't worn somethin' like this since... well, that ain't important. Just keep your eyes closed."

He shimmied out of the leather and sighed in relief as cool air met his skin. Damn, that felt so good. He smirked as he pulled the boxers on and then the sleep pants over them. He could have laughed if it hadn't been so damned sad; he felt over dressed.

"Thanks, Tama-baby, knew ya loved me." he called out jokingly as he folded the leather pants and sat them beside his coat and shirt, laying his boots over top of them. "I want my tools back, by the way. I kept them damned things since Konan, always made Jun wonder what kinda magic I knew since I could always get out of the chain- err, haha, never mind. I just want them tools back tomorrow."

He rolled to face the window, leaving the blankets folded neatly at the foot of the mat.

"Sure I do, who else would I let in my pants?" Tamahome smiled and obediently closed his eyes, not that it mattered much. One, it wasn't like he'd never seen a naked guy before, and two, it was dark enough for Tasuki to keep his dignity.

"I'll give them back tomorrow, don't get all upset." Tamahome smiled. This all felt right, which made him frown soon after. Once Tasuki went into the book it would be gone. "How does it work?" He asked. "I mean, going back, how are you going to do it?"

Tasuki frowned and rolled over and raised up on his elbows, looking across the room at Tamahome. "Not sure, I figure all I gotta do is open it and read whatever spell sent Miaka inside in th' first place and, poof, I'm home."

He pulled the blanket up from the foot of the mat and wrapped it around his shoulders as he got to his feet. "Bathroom?"

Tamahome pointed to the door, but realized it was useless in the dark. "It's the second door. First is the closet, don't get them mixed up." he said teasing. "I'f you want, I've got a spare toothbrush under the sink."

Tasuki shook his head and grabbed for his boots, tucking them under his arm as he moved towards the bathroom. "Smart ass. Thanks, but I'm arright."

He opened the bathroom door and locked it behind him, leaning against the door for a minute before dropping the blanket and digging into the heel of his boot. A small white square and a bottle fell into his palm and he put both to good use.

He popped the cap on the bottle and turned on the faucet. He cupped a handful of water to his lips then shoved two pills into his mouth and shook his head as he swallowed them. He shivered as the water pushed the pills down his throat.

The white square clattered to the floor and he stooped to pick it up, praying Tama hadn't heard it.

Tamahome frowned as Tasuki made his way to the bathroom. He saw the boots tucked under his arm and furrowed his brow in thought. Three years of police training had sharpened his already sharp senses. Tasuki didn't need boots in the bathroom, that was obvious, and given the situation he was in and the secret pockets...

He silently got out of bed and snuck over to the bathroom door. He put his ear to it. Rustling and water came from the other side, and a tiny clacking, then hurried movements. He bowed his head and hoped he was wrong. "Tasuki." He knocked on the door and called in. "You find everything ok?"

He listened closely for anymore tell tale sounds, praying he wasn't right.

Tasuki dropped the white square again and laughed nervously. "Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Go back to bed, Tama, I'll be right out!" he called back as he plucked the small square from the floor and popped it open.

He cursed the no spill lid as the sucking pop echoed in the small room. He hurriedly dipped his fingers in and closed his eyes.

Yeah right, Tamahome shook his head and swung open the door.

Tasuki flinched and hid the tin behind his back, a wide, nervous smile on his lips. "What's a matter, Tama? Can't wait to piss?" he capped the tin behind his back and scooted around Tamahome, grabbing his boots and the blanket from the floor.

"Sorry, didn't know ya hadda go so bad. I'll wait." he slipped the blanket around his shoulders again and sauntered towards the door.

Tamahome put a hand on his shoulder.

"What is it? Cocaine? Heroin?" he looked around the bathroom for a lighter and a needle. "Tasuki, if you're going to get away from this life, you can't bring habits with you." He said frowning.

Tasuki turned his head, a confused expression on his face. "Ya think I'm on drugs?" he pushed Tamahome's hand off of his shoulder and stalked out, tossing aside his blanket and stripping in the middle of the room. He snatched up his clothes and jerked them on, growling under his breath.

"Fuckin' drugs, HA! Like I'd do that shit! Ya know what, fuck you Tama." he sat on the floor and stuffed his tin back in the heel of his boot before ramming his foot inside.

"Hey!" Tasuki's words stung him deeply. "I was only trying to look out for you. It certainly looked like something." He ran to the door and stood in front of it. "What was it then?"

Tasuki glared at Tamahome and got to his feet, stalking over to snarl in his face. "You ever been fucked by ten different people in one day? Ya know how much that fuckin' hurts? I got that tin from a quack, he told me to put it on so that I don't get an infection. I took aspirin to get rid of the muscle aches. Anythin' else ya wanna know about private things? Like how big the last guy was? How much he made me bleed? How about ask me how it is when ya gotta put one a them nasty bastards in yer fuckin' mouth while ya take it up the ass?!"

He stalked away, moving to the window to glare at the moon again. "I was fuckin' embarrassed that ya caught me doctorin' myself like that." he crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. "I understand yer a cop, ya get suspicious, but did ya really think I'd put drugs in my body? Hell, I can't even drink anythin' but water because I'm afraid a what somebody might have put in it!"

Tamahome visibly deflated. Guilty that he had jumped to conclusions about Tasuki. "Tasuki, I'm sorry."

There was nothing else he could say. He walked away from the door and tentatively approached Tasuki. "I wish you didn't get forced into that." He shut his eyes against the vivid, violent images his head cooked up. Tamahome took a step closer and gingerly put his arms around him in a hug. "I'm sorry"

Tasuki sighed and dropped his head to rest on Tama's shoulder. He kept his arms firmly crossed, more hugging himself than keeping away from Tama. He wasn't used to gentle, and hugs were ancient history. "Don't apologize, Tama. I guess Suzaku wanted me to... uh, live like this until I can go home. Now do ya see why I'm so fuckin' ready to go?"

He shifted his arms and gently touched Tamahome's back, afraid of hugging too tight and making him uncomfortable. He was still shirtless, after all, and his tattoo did read 'Jun's Bitch'. Maybe Tama hadn't seen it yet and he still had time to get a shirt on....

He was glad that Tasuki didn't push him away, and he held him tighter when Tasuki opened up his arms. There was always a funny feeling when you first hug a person; a sort of awkward awakening to the fact that they were another human being, sharing your world and in a body just like yours. It was strange, but that awkwardness wasn't there even though Tasuki stood in front of him without a shirt on, even though Tamahome was only wearing boxers and tee shirt.

"Go back then." He whispered in Tasuki's ear, wanting to take back the words as soon as they left his lips. "I want to go with you, but if Miaka belongs here, then so do I and I can't hold you in this world any longer."

His chest felt tight, but he ignored the feeling. This was the right thing to do.

Tasuki tightened his grip, hugging Tamahome hard. He breathed deeply, pulling in strength where he had none to keep inside the hurt that pierced him when those words whispered against his ear. He'd heard nothing but wanting to go home as well all night and now that he'd admitted to doing the things he did, the story changed.

It shouldn't bother him, he wasn't important to this world anyway. He hated this place. But he'd been hoping that Tamahome would come along. It would be nice to have a friend when he went back.

He cleared his throat of the tears that wanted out and pulled away from the hug. "Okay, just let me grab something from the store right quick. I gotta cover this stupid fuckin' red hair. Even if it's been forever in there, people would still know who I was. I don't want that kinda recognition. I'm gonna take over Ma's farm. Ya know, stay until I die an' shit. Like Ma wanted me to."

The idea of settling down on a farm brought back another fragment of memory for him and he wanted to cry. His family had a farm. A small, poor farm that the whole family worked. He remembered teaching Chuei how to hold the tools and he remembered his father.

He closed his eyes, held the memory for a second longer then breathed out steadily.

"I'll go with you." Tamahome offered.

He flung on loose pants and picked up his black jacket then paused. Walking over to the bed, he pulled out the old tattered blue coat he had kept since he could remember being in this world. He lifted it up, patted it, and slipped it on.

"For Other lives' sake." He said, a sad half smile on his lips.

He could feel a strange flickering energy inside of him. It called out to him as he buttoned the frogs that held the front shut.

"You know, it took me five months to realize that no one here had hair naturally this color?" He tried a smile again, but it didn't come out right. "Even if you get permanent dye, it'll grow out that bright red, you know."

Tasuki blinked and stared for a minute, silent and confused. Hadn't Tama just said...? "Wait, what about Miaka? Didn't you just say that if she belonged here then you did, too?" he turned and grabbed his shirt, tugging it over his head before he froze. Shit. He calmly glanced over his shoulder to make sure Tamahome hadn't seen the tattoo.

He spouted out the first thing that came to mind. "Well, just until I got home, then I'd wear one a those head piece things that Pop wore when he worked the fields. I'd just wear it all the time. Wouldn't hafta worry 'bout nobody seein' it when I'm inside, nobody's gonna be there." he laughed and scratched the back of his head as he turned to face Tamahome again.

"I meant I'll go with you to the store." He said, looking up from tying the, now dark, red sash around his waist.

But how he wanted to go back. Tamahome bent down and scooped up his hat. He walked over and fit Tasuki's hair under the black cap as well as he could. "So we don't catch any attentions on our way." He explained as he headed for the door.

Tasuki blinked then blushed, "Oh, oh, gotcha." He grinned, "Had me wonderin' for a second there, Tama. Almost made me think ya wanted t'go home with me."

He laughed loudly, aware he was showing his nervousness. "It's arright, I can go to th' store by myself. Not like I was plannin' to run out on ya or nothin'." he grinned again, fangs flashing and his eyes fluttering closed.

"Not a question of that." Tamahome said simply and opened the door. "I want you be with you for as long as you're still here." He slipped on his shoes and waited. "Are you coming?"

Tasuki jumped and grabbed for his coat, pushing aside the tingle at Tamahome's words. "Yeah, oh, before we go..." he dug into his coat pocket and handed Tama a wad of cash. "If somebody stops me an' asks for money just tell 'em ya ain't paid me yet. Just in case."

He slipped his arm through Tamahome's and grimaced, "Sorry, but I know Jun. He sees me out with anybody an' he wants me t'be th' best date I c'n manage. It's just 'til we get back, I promise." he blushed and turned his head.

Tamahome took the cash and shoved it in his pant's pocket.

Inside, Tamahome made note of the man's name. Later, he'd ask Tasuki where the guy operated out of and he'd bust him. The most wretched thing a person could do to another human being is take advantage of them. He would at least take care of that once Tasuki was gone and no longer in danger.

Outwardly, he smiled over at Tasuki. "I'm ok with that, hunny." He smirked, "I'm glad I can show you such a good time out on the town." He joked at their outing to the twenty-four-hour convenience store.

"Har, har, har loverboy. Yer such a sweetheart, ya know that? Takin' me places as grand as th' fuckin' Son-Son on the corner. Damn, did I powder my bottom fer this? It's gonna be such a big affair! Hope we don't see th' mayor or nothin', he's such a dick when someone takes his 'baby-cakes' out without him." he answered with a bored drawl.

"Yer such an ass. Let's go, loverboy." and tugged at Tamahome's arm.

Tamahome snickered at the idea of Tasuki and him dressed up in 19th century clothes; Tasuki in a bustled dress and him with a top hat and a monocle.

He was dragged out of the apartment and he locked the door.

They walked down the street. It was quiet. The lampposts glowed in even marks along the sidewalk; some flickered every now and then. There was no sound, not even the distant sound of dogs or cars. This truly was a time that belonged to no one but the street gangs and the cops unfortunate enough to get this shift.

It sent a shiver up his spine and it made him jumpy. He had a bad feeling about this.

Tasuki grinned as the silence of the night surrounded him. This was the best time of night, most customers were home with their wives and most of the workers were at the barracks getting what sleep they could. The only ones he needed to worry about were the pinchers...

A hand grabbed his and jerked him away from Tamahome's grip, spinning him to face the wall. He crashed against the brick siding of the apartment building and cringed. "Get off!"

A large body pressed against his back, forcing him further into the side of the building, "Jun says ya owe him money. Give it over and you can go back to playing the nice little whore for your guy here."

"He ain't paid me yet! Get off!" Tasuki growled back, pushing his hands against the wall and trying to shove the larger man away.

"Oh no, little bird, you pay up cash now or you go back to the chain house. You know how I loved ramming your little ass at the chain house, na?"

Tasuki quivered and gagged, "Arright! Get off an' I'll get the fuckin' money."

"Hey, fucker!" Tamahome shouted at the big guy, pulling on the persona of his undercover self. "Hand's off! He's mine, and unless you wanna offer a refund, I suggest ya wait your turn."

He crossed his arms and widened his stance. Big, dumb, and slow. Shouldn't be too hard to take down.

Rui glared over at the man that dared interrupt him, jerking Tasuki around and putting a beefy hand around his throat. "Tell him, little bird, tell him a'fore I do."

Tasuki growled and lowered his eyes. "Could you pay him for me? I'm not allowed to take jobs over night unless I get paid up front. Sorry, sir."

Rui smirked and draped his free arm over Tasuki's chest, pulling his shirt up to expose smooth skin. "This is mine whenever I want it, you wait until I'm done."

Tasuki turned his face away, hiding the disgust he felt for the man touching him. "Just pay him, sir, please?" He whispered, keeping his eyes on the ground.

Tamahome glared back at the wall of a man. He wanted nothing more than to kick that guys ugly face into the pavement, but he had Tasuki. "Fine, if that's what you want." He reached into his pockets and pulled out the cash Tasuki had given him.

"How much was it again?" He feigned.

Tasuki cleared his throat, "Four hundred thousand." he clenched his eyes shut, that was his savings after a full year. Now he had to buy himself for the night, but it kept Rui off of him. He looked up at Tama and mouthed 'Thank you' before dropping his head again.

Rui smirked and held out a hand for the money. "That little ass is expensive, you must do more than fuck all night. Hnn, I think I'll take you for myself tomorrow. Just so you can show me what is worth four hundred thousand a night."

Tamahome counted the money out loud so he knew it was all there and held it up and out. "Gimme what I'm paying for and we can both go home happy." Tamahome said, holding out his other hand for the exchange.

Rui snatched the cash and shoved Tasuki at Tamahome, "Get outta here. Little bird, you better be at my place by noon. Or you know what happens."

Tasuki tripped and fell against Tamahome, gripping his arms to keep from falling. "Sorry, Tama." he whispered.

"It's ok, Tasuki." he whispered to him when he was safe in his arms again.

"Hey, wait a minute." Rui grabbed Tamahome's shoulder and turned him around, "Ain't you that fuckin' cop that busted Linny?"

Tasuki shoved at Rui's hand, "Run, Tama!"

They had just turned around and started walking when he shouted at them. Damn.

He grabbed Tasuki's wrist and bolted. The large hulking man was fast for a big guy. He chased them ten blocks before they were able to pull ahead of him enough to dart into a dark alleyway and hide. "We could have taken him easy enough." Tama panted a hushed whisper in Tasuki's ear.

Tasuki panted against Tamahome's chest; "You don't know Rui. He fights dirty." he whispered back, hugging him tight. "I don't want you t'find out what it's like. The last cop... He didn't make it two days. And that was after he put four bullets in Rui. That man ain't a man, he's a monster."

He shivered and squirmed as close as he could get, a terrible image flashing in his mind of Tamahome in that other cop's place.

Tamahome wanted to ask what exactly they were doing fighting for two days, but he heard heavy footsteps approaching fast. He put a finger to his mouth and hushed Tasuki, trying to calm his heartbeat and silence his breathing.

Tasuki nodded and huddled close, pushing Tama flat against the wall and scooted further down the alley. If he was grabbed, Tamahome still had a chance to escape. He glanced back at Tamahome and waved, darting out of the alleyway and into Rui.

Rui grabbed Tasuki around the waist and hefted him high. "Little bird, my, my, you are in a hurry to come to me. Let's get you started for the night then." He shoved Tasuki face first against the wall of the alleyway, not even twenty feet from where Tamahome was, and jerked Tasuki's pants down.

Tasuki looked over at Tama and mouthed for him to run.

Tamahome reached out to call to Tasuki to get back, but it was too late. He had already run out there like a martyr and the mad man caught him. He instinctively reached for his gun, forgetting he had changed out of his work clothes already until his hand found nothing on his hip. He would have to do this the old fashioned way.

Tamahome ran from the alleyway and jumped up, grabbing one side of the wall for support as he kicked off the other and landed a roundhouse kick to the man's head.

Rui jerked his head back and stumbled a bit from the surprise, but straightened up quickly and came after him with a fist the size of Tamahome's head. "You're gonna regret that, pig!" He shouted to Tamahome as he swung.

This guy was fast and thick as well! Tamahome's foot stung a bit from the meeting with his head earlier. He lowered his fighting stance and brought his arms up to ready position.

Tamahome side stepped the huge fist, guiding the forward momentum with his arm and grabbed hold of the equally gigantic wrist. The man swung around with his arm extended to Tamahome, like a dance move. Tamahome leaned down on one leg and kicked his heel into the hollow of the man's armpit.

Tasuki watched wide eyed as he tugged his pants back up; he'd never really seen Tamahome go all out like that. It was amazing! He blinked as he realized that Tama was fighting all alone and stepped out to join the fray.

He leapt on to the broad back, wrapping his arms around Rui's thick neck and tightening his hold as much as he could. He pulled himself up to Rui's shoulders and wrapped his legs around the thick arms to keep him from swinging at Tamahome. "I told ya to run, damnit!" he growled as he jerked on Rui's chin, trying to force his head up so he couldn't fight.

Tamahome pulled Rui's arm in and forced his chin to come colliding with his forward punch. "You really think I would turn tail and run on you, Tasuki?"

The big man's face was bleeding as he reached up and over his head to grab at Tasuki.

Rui yelled and cursed the fist to his jaw, grabbing wiry legs and shoving them back to topple Tasuki from his perch. He glared at the cop, fire in his eyes. "You hurt me. Now, I hurt the little bird." he grabbed a handful of Tasuki's hair and hauled him up, licking his neck and jaw before digging his teeth in to the smooth skin just below his ear.

Tasuki cried out, hands not knowing whether to go to his head or his neck and ended up just punching at Rui's chest. He kicked out, aiming for the soft spots that would bring any man down for awhile but Rui caught his knee and jerked it up to shoulder level. He sneered at Tamahome. "Watch him scream for me, Cop."

"Go! Tama, get outta here! I don't want you seein' this!" he kicked again, trying weakly to escape the tangle of limbs he had become.

No way, no way this guy was going to do this. No way was he going to let his friend get hurt. "You asked for it." he growled deep in his throat, the voice seeming to bubble up from the wind that suddenly kicked up around them. "No one hurts a Suzaku seishi."

He jumped up in the air, his figure framed by the moon for a moment, a small gleam of red light flickering on the silhouette of his forehead and brought his fist slamming down hard on the man's nose.

There was a sickening cracking noise and a spray of blood from Rui's face. He groaned in pain and dropped Tasuki hard on the ground, flinging his hands up to shield the flow of blood that was spreading across his chin and up into his eyes.

Tasuki collapsed to the ground, but got to his feet as fast as he could. He ran to Tamahome, hugging him tight, "You didn't leave me. Gods, you could have been killed! Are you crazy?" he beat at Tamahome's chest with one fist while holding him tight with the other.

A tear slid down his cheek and he pushed Tamahome back to the wall of the alleyway. He just wanted to hold him for a minute, just long enough for the shaking to go away. He never wanted Tamahome to be in that kind of danger again.

"You're coming back to Konan with me, you hear me?! I can't leave if you're gonna be in trouble. Jun's got guys on the police force, you'll die if ya stay here!" he cupped Tamahome's face between his palms. "We'll ask Miaka if she wants to come, but you are comin' back with me. I'd never sleep again knowin' you're in danger of dyin' just cause ya saved my sorry ass."

"Tasuki, I'll.."

"YOU'RE DEAD COP! YOU HEAR ME?! DEAD!!" a gargled and mushy voice yelled to him as he scampered away. "You ain't got no idea what kinda trouble that whore just got you in." Rui finished his tirade and was gone, cradling a broken nose.

Tamahome shook his head. "Empty threats. You're right, people in this world are soft." He looked to Tasuki's pleading face.

He gave in.

"If Miaka wants to go, I'll go. If she doesn't...." He furrowed his brow. "That guys no threat to me, but I don't want to know what he could do to her, and if they know me, they can get to her." He stopped and thought for a second. "You know, another world is probably the best witness protection relocation I've ever heard of. Let's hope she goes for it."

Tasuki flinched as Rui's words echoed in his head. No, no, he didn't want Tamahome to be in trouble because of him. He tightened his grip on Tamahome's cheeks, pulling him down to look in his eyes. "I'm. Not. Leavin'. Without. You! Do ya understand? I'll go back to Jun before I let ya get hurt over this. You should've let him have me, damnit. It's not like it was important or nothin', I'd just be kinda sore for a few weeks. Nothin' that bad."

He sighed and leaned his forehead against Tamahome's, "Ya know yer mark showed up, just for a second or two. It was nice seein' a real Suzaku seishi in action again."

Tamahome smiled and nodded. "I could feel it."

He wrapped his arms around Tasuki and held him. The man was shaking. "You're not going back to that guy." he said in a grave tone. "And damnit it was important. It's not just..." he sighed, not knowing if explaining it would make it better or worse.

"Let's go get that book. I'll call Miaka and wake her up, get her decision. You ok?" He slid one hand over Tasuki's shoulders and led him back the way they came. "If I could just get the guy's names, I could arrange a stake out and nab these bastards, they wouldn't hurt any one again."

Tasuki shook his head. "No, I can't give that to ya. Cops are in his pocket. Well, maybe not you, but other cops are. I dunno which ones are and which ain't, but Jun Shino is the biggest crime boss in this area. He's got a fuckin' network that would blow yer mind!"

He sagged to the ground for a moment, his knees turning to jelly at the thought of just what Jun could do to him. "Get Miaka on the phone, we gotta try an' go home tonight. Rui's probably arready told Jun what I did and gave him a description of ya. We're marked now. We gotta go tonight!"

He raised tearful eyes to Tamahome, "Please, please tell me yer gonna come with me! I'll kidnap Miaka if that's what it takes to get ya to come, but please. Please, Tama?"

"I'll go." He answered Tasuki's plea. "But If this guy is as connected as you say he is, then I'm worried about Miaka and her family, and Yui. They can't all come with us."

Tasuki bowed his head. "Then you take as many as ya can. I'll stay behind an' try to get Jun to call it off. I'll tell him you was drunk or somethin' an' didn't realize what was happening! I'll come through the book once I get it settled."

He got to his feet and stiffened his spine. He knew things had gone too far out of control for his word to make any difference, but Tamahome didn't need to know that. "You take who ya can, I'll protect the rest as best I can. I'll call in a few... favors. I'll get it dropped." he closed his eyes and nodded, knowing it was the only way to keep them safe.

"Are you crazy?" Tamahome blurted out. "You're the first one they're going to get to. If they don't kill you, they make you wish you were dead." He shook his head. "No, the only way I'm going through that book is with you. "

Tasuki shook his head. "Fine, I'll sell my tessen to 'em. That'll buy your safety. Jun's wanted it since he first saw it, it's why I'm in this situation." He sighed, "That way you don't gotta go if ya don't wanna."

"Tasuki?" He suddenly thought of a good idea, a crazy but maybe only solution to this. "Let's fight them. If we can use our powers here we should be fine. If you get your fan from him, they won't know what hit them."

His eyes were wide and darting back and fourth, trying to go over scenarios in his head. "If we get to them before they tell the rest, we could make sure everyone's safe."

Tasuki looked up, "I have th' tessen at my... uh, place. It's safe. I dunno if it works or not, though. How about we try it first and see, then get all crazy an' kick some ass. That work?"

Tamahome grinned. "Yes."

"Then let me show ya where I live." and drug him around the corner into the darkest pit of hell suburbia has ever seen.

End 1