Birthday Wish

Birthday Wish

By: Yahnkehy

Author's notes: Second installment of this four-parter. And, yes, it is already complete. I'll be updating every four days... I seem to like the number four for some reason. Maybe I need to get back into that foursome I was writing and appease this strange urge? (thinks) Nah, not until I finish the epic that will be posted up as soon as I'm done writing it. It seems to go more smoothly if I finish something before I post it. Less chance for me to get sidetracked... kinda.

Rating: Such an M rating. But, then again, all of my stuff is... does that mean I'm a hentai? Oh, yeah, forgot about that little quirk to my nature. :P

Pairing: Uh, do you really need to know to enjoy this? Okay, okay, fine. Tasuki/Tama (as most should know seme first and uke follows.)

Disclaimer: Uh, yeah, I own it all right. But, uh, (shifty eyes) I sold it to Watase-sama.(nodnod) Yeah, I sold it, that's the ticket! Oh, wait, you mean REALLY. Oh, then no, sadly, these bishies are NOT mine. No matter how much I WISH Tasuki was mine. I own a Tasuki plushie... does that count?


The ride back was at least uneventful. No more sniffing his friend and no more little hot urges.

Tamahome relaxed a bit further into his special day. Maybe the strange feelings were just some kind of jitters, or maybe the worst of the battle was over. Tamahome began to believe that he had nothing left to worry about as they set up for the party. After all, it had been a few hours and no strange anything was happening.

He climbed up onto the ladder he had leaned against a tall tree and attached a gray streamer to the branch. Tamahome smiled. This was defiantly how he was supposed to be feeling for tonight. His first big party on campus. This was going to be completely awesome and many friends will be made. It was determined in his mind.

Tasuki sat on a branch of the tree across from Tamahome, attaching blue streamers and winding them around the grey ones. "Hey, did ya ever decide where ya wanna hang them lanterns? I think I asked several couples, so we're not gonna want to have too many. I think that girl from psych class is comin', too. Ya never know I may get lucky and end up with a girl this time. You got your eye on someone or ya just gonna keep pullin' the solo act?"

He jumped down from the tree, and stepped back to look at the effect. "Heh, lookin' good, Tama. Only three rolls each to go."

Tamahome stepped back and took in the streamers as he was taking in Tasuki's words. It kind of stung. No, he had no one in mind. His body might want him to, but he was set on ignoring everything his body told him tonight about women. It was just a breeding instinct that was stronger today than any day of the rest of his life. He could get past it. He was certain he could get past it because of two things.

One was sitting on his wrist in all its nasty old magic glory and the other was standing to his right. Tasuki. His old friend and secret... no make that very secret love interest. Tasuki was obviously not interested and Tamahome had never even discussed that part of himself with anyone. He was happy just to have Tasuki close by in his life and scaring him off with a confession, even if he kept the details out, was not on Tama's list of things to do.

"Going solo for the good of everyone." Tamahome said with a sad kind of smile over to his shoulder to Tasuki. "Not ready to be a father just yet, and I'll never be ready to burden some poor girl with a litter."

Tasuki cocked his brow. "Yeah, I guess I can understand that. Maybe ya need to get with a guy or somethin'? Ya wouldn't hafta worry about kids then." He said offhand, turning back to stare at the streamers thoughtfully.

There was no way in hell that he'd ever let some other guy get that close to Tamahome, but saying that would give him an idea as to if Tamahome would consider a male rather than the girls Tasuki kept trying to get him with. He'd had a girlfriend once but when he'd tried to kiss her, Tamahome's face had flashed behind his eyes and he'd broken it off with the girl right then. He'd never thought of dating anyone after that, well, no one except maybe Tamahome.

Tamahome's eyes went wide and he stumbled over a response. He was kind of frozen, mentally, on the fact that Tasuki had even mentioned it as a joke. The fact that it must have been one let him eke out a strange laugh and a nod, blowing off the idea just as calmly as Tasuki had suggested it.

"Well, my problems aside," Tamahome cleared his throat and picked up the streamers resting on the ladder's step. "You go out and have yourself a good time. If that psych chick comes by you taker her out by the lake for me." Tamahome patted Tasuki on the back hurriedly and wandered over to the next tree. His wrist itched. The damn bracelet irritated him and got itchy every now and again, but tonight it was doubly annoying. "Stupid thing." he growled at it and moved the ladder to the next tree.

Tasuki turned to watch Tamahome for a few minutes. Well, he had his answer. "Nah, ya know I don't like girls that much. Too irritatin'. I'll be arright with just my sake." He wandered back to the car to grab another roll of streamers and a couple of packages of lanterns.

"Hey, where do ya want these put up?" He asked, standing at the foot of the ladder with a hand on his hip, dangling the lanterns.

“Around the lake. It’s where the lovers will be." Tamahome grinned at him. He looked very, well he would have said beautiful, standing there in the deepening sunlight, but as far as Tamahome was concerned, Tasuki was looking delicious. Without his even knowing, Tamahome winked at his friend and turned to put up the last bit of decoration.

"After this, we're having a toast to a grove well decorated." Tama informed Tasuki over his shoulder, reaching down to scratch at the reddening skin under the bits of bone and blood.

Tasuki stood stock-still. Had Tamahome winked at him? What was that secretive smile about? He blinked and shook his head, "Hell yeah, a toast sounds- hey, what's wrong with your wrist?"

Reaching up, he gripped Tamahome's hand and turned it over to look at the reddening skin. "This looks like it hurts. I ain't got any antiseptic- here, let me fix it until we go back to get dressed." He licked the reddened skin, then looked at the raw scratches. "Hmm, once more." He licked again then released Tamahome's hand. "That better?"***

Tamahome had thought that the worst of the urges had passed, he had thought that he might actually be done with the foreboding curse that hung over him until this day, he thought he was safe as long as he had his magic and his distance. Tamahome was wrong.

An enormously strong wave gripped him. He saw everything in fine detail and completely out of context. The tempting pink of Tasuki's tongue, the feel of warm wetness at his skin and Tasuki's scent was strong, drifting up to Tama's nose from the top of that sexy red hair.

A growl rumbled deep in Tamahome's throat and a dark gleam entered his eyes. The third bead of bone made a sharp cracking noise as a hairline fissure raced up the side. Tamahome could feel the phantom tail twitch as he pounced his unsuspecting friend.

Tasuki's eyes went wide, barely managing to catch Tamahome as he leapt. "Woah! Are ya-" Whatever he had been about to say dried up in his throat at the look in Tamahome's eyes. A scent drifted into his nose and clawed its way into his belly, sparking what he desperately tried to keep hidden. "Tama?"

He stepped back a pace, as if doing so would put distance between himself and the boy in his arms, but he tripped and fell backwards over a tree root. He clutched Tamahome tightly to his chest instinctively, his nose pressing into the curve of a sweetly scented neck.

He lay there a moment, panting into Tamahome's neck, the scent filling his nose with each quick breath. His tongue flicked against the hollow of his throat before he could stop himself.

Tamahome was purring again, a strange kind of growling at the back of his throat. A pleased smile was on his lips and he curved into the caress of that warm tongue. Exactly what he wanted. He wasted no time, clamping his lips over Tasuki's sweet mouth. A devilish smirk replaced the happy smile and he lifted his left wrist to his teeth.

He slid his body down so he could hold Tasuki's gaze as he grabbed the bracelet with his teeth and tugged it over his hand. The bitter taste of century old blood caught his tongue and he nearly barked at the offending thing, but it woke him up enough. It woke him up enough to back-peddle and let the magic of the talisman gain a balance of control again.

Frightened, Tamahome crawled away and backed himself against a tree. His wrist was burning and he saw the crack in the bracelet. He had thought it was a coincidence the first two times, but now, he knew it was connected. The seal was weakening from the intensity of his nature and no one was safe from him. "You should go." Tama whispered to Tasuki, his head in his hands, completely ashamed of what he had just done.

Tasuki put a hand to Tamahome's bowed head, taking in a calming breath. "Look, I ain't goin' nowhere. I know it was just because today is when everything's outta whack with you. I ain't gonna stop bein' your best friend over something like stealin' a kiss. I do expect flowers, though." He teased with a grin that hid every bit of the heat that had washed over him the moment Tamahome's lips had met his.

It was the curse, not because Tamahome wanted it. That was all and he accepted that. "I been with you since we were kids, I ain't goin' nowhere without ya. So, stop actin' like ya think I'm gonna run away. Ya don't scare me, Tama-chan."

Tamahome raised his worried eyes to his best friend. He looked about to say something, but looked down to the bracelet instead. He didn't want to know what would happen when there were no more beads to crack. He fingered it for a while, as if touching it would make the bead of bone whole again.

"Good to know." He said solemnly. "But, you should be worried. I'm sorry about the kiss, but you're lucky that's all I did. This thing, well, it's strong and very, VERY demanding. My mother warned me over and over about this day and I don't want you to... I don't want to hurt you."

He sighed, leaning his head back against the bark. The flow of up-starting energy in him seemed to be calmer now. It was amazing he didn't realize how constant the urge was. Now that it had stopped, Tamahome was painfully aware of how the undercurrents colored his every move before.

Tasuki leaned back on his hands. "Okay, fine, I'm warned. I still ain't goin' nowhere. Even if ya do get all wild, I don't think you'd hurt me. Ya ain't that kinda guy." He grinned and got to his feet, offering a hand to Tamahome. "Come on, ya baka, we gotta finish these lanterns before it gets too much darker."

A big black truck pulled up and a slender blonde hopped out, "Hey, you guys taking a break? Hu-uh, if I've got to set up this system, then you guys have to do more than hang a few streamers."

Tasuki laughed and waved at Juumonji. "Yeah, yeah, we're doin' it, Dad."

Tamahome forewent taking Tasuki's hand, afraid of what skin to skin contact might spark. He was happy to have the interruption so Tasuki didn't notice all that much and if he did, then he didn't make a huge deal about it. Tama waved to the familiar face and smiled when he implied they were going to take the night easy.

Silently, Tamahome followed behind Tasuki and set to work at what tasks his father had for them. Usually, the lively man made him feel relaxed, but tonight it only made him remember he didn't have a father. He didn't have one because of the same thing that was making him paw at his best friend. He set to work, trying to delve into the labor to keep his mind away from the heat that he could feel building again.

Tasuki started on the opposite side of the lake from Tamahome, promising to meet in the middle. It was too large to actually put the lanterns around the entire thing, so they lit one side with romantic light.

Juumonji had been Tasuki's father since Tasuki turned six; Tasuki's mother finally marrying again after his father had died when he was two. Tamahome and his mother had moved in next door that same year and Tasuki only referred to Juu as 'Dad' in his presence, but tried to keep from saying it too loud in front of Tamahome. Tasuki didn't remind his friend of his fatherless state.

When they had been kids, Tamahome had often come to their house and Juumonji had treated him as a second son, knowing that the boy didn't have a father and that Tamahome's mother never really settled down with a single man.

Juu sat down on the bed of his truck, "Hey, Tamahome, come here." He called out, turning to grab a present from behind him. "I want to talk to you for a minute."

Tamahome turned at the sound of his name. Putting down what he was wiring up, he trotted over to the flat bed truck with a curious smile. "What's up?" he asked, looking for something big he was possibly needing help with.

Juumonji handed him a large box with a grin. "Your mother told me you liked things like this. Happy birthday, Tamahome." It was a strange present, but the boy's mother should know him best and he'd gone ahead and bought the oddly pretty fantasy painting of a mother fox demon and a cub watching children play. "Your mom also put a small box in there for you too, but I don't know what it is."

Tamahome thanked him and tore into the present. It was his second of the day, but Tasuki's wasn't so much fun to open. He pulled out the painting and his heart raced. It wasn't often that he felt a kinship with the thing he was half born as, but this painter always brought it out in him. A wide smile rose to his lips and he flung his arms around the man he knew as a surrogate dad.

"Thank you, it's beautiful." he said, as he leaned back to admire it some more. It would have to go in his dorm room; Tasuki wasn't allowed to nay say it.

Tamahome then took the smaller box out and examined it. He glanced curiously up to Juumonji, then opened it as delicately as it was wrapped.

Inside the box, nestled in soft cotton was a single tooth on a long silk chord. The tooth was human sized, but fang sharp. He untwined the chord and let the tooth hang in midair as he looked at in with questioning eyes. Under the necklace was a note. He put down the present and unfolded the piece of paper.

Dear Tamahome, It's your 18th birthday today, and I thought it was time for you to have this. It's your great grandmother's, the original of the line of what we are. She found her mate and they fell in love around her seventeenth birthday. It was rumored that the tooth of a kitsune would bring luck and protection to its wearer. I don't know about the protection part, but she lived a happy life with someone who loved her and that's fortune enough. I hope the bracelet is keeping you well. Luck on your 18th birthday, dear. I love you.

Tamahome put away the note quickly, hoping Juu hadn't caught any of it. Then, Tama strung the necklace around his neck and tied it closed. The tooth hung against his chest, small but heavy, but it felt comforting in a way.

Juu smiled and waved Tamahome off to his work, "Go on back to work, people will be showing up soon and I want to make sure that everything is set before I go. Can't have an old man like me hanging out with a bunch of kids, can we?" He laughed and patted Tamahome's shoulder; the strange gift nothing new to him. He'd seen far more bizarre things since Tamahome had left for college with his son.

"Hey! No fair restin' and hangin' on Dad when I'm workin'!" Tasuki teased, tossing down the ends of the coils of wire. "Where's my hug, huh? You're passin' 'em out, I want one too!" He stuck out his tongue and went over to where Tamahome had left off, trying to finish up before anyone got there.

Tamahome looked over his shoulder at Tasuki, then gave a smile to Juu. "He has a point. I should get back to what I was doing. Do you mind dropping this at the security desk in our dorm? It's kind of big."

Juumonji nodded and hoisted the painting back into the truck. "One more speaker and I can leave you kids alone."

Tama got back to work and soon they were ready to receive guests. He stood back and put his hands on his hips, looking over to Tasuki and back out to the lake. The necklace, even though the luck and protection was probably just a myth, made him feel calmer. "I think that's a grove well decorated." Tama said, walking over to where Tasuki was. A white van pulled into the clearing and unloaded their liquor supply right on cue.

Tasuki smirked, "Hell yeah. Let's get this stuff set up an' we can head to the car and change. Ya didn't think I only got you a book for your birthday, did ya?" He turned and wandered over to the van and started barking orders to the guys unloading.

Juu shook his head and waved at Tamahome. "I'm out of here, don't drink too much... well, don't let Tasuki drink too much. You know he gets loopy on that stinking sake he drinks."

"Ok." Tama called after him with a wave.

"Alright, let's get started." Tamahome lifted the first box of liquor up to the table and started laying them out. "First pick, what do you want?"

He could seriously use a drink. The stress of worrying about this day as enough to fray his nerves, but the previous kissing encounter was one he hoped to wash away with pure vodka. Not that it was bad. In fact, it had been very... stirring, but it was wrong to have let his animal-side take over and he wanted the guilt to go away.

Tasuki shrugged, "Toast first or ya want your other present first? Either is fine by me, ya get both anyway." He eyed the boxes of liquor, then grabbed one and tore it open and started setting out the bottles stacked inside. "Oh, wait, gotta grab the cups, unless ya wanna drink after me." He laughed and turned for the car, using the cups as an excuse to grab the present that was hiding under the blanket in his trunk.

He popped the trunk and stared at the blanket for a minute, then shook away the images that popped into his head. That kiss was still floating around in his brain and his active young mind was taking it further than he wanted it to.

He snatched the box out of the trunk along with his bag and went back to Tamahome. He hoped that the tight blue jeans and black button down shirt wouldn't be too much of a give away. He chose the jeans only because he knew they were a little tight, just tight enough to show off Tamahome's ass. He may have accepted that he'd never get to touch, but that didn't mean that he couldn't look.

Tamahome waited until his friend came back, popping open a bottle of sake Tasuki had picked out while he went to get the cups from the car. Tasuki came back with packages of cups and a clothing shaped box wrapped in nice paper. Tamahome grinned up at Tasuki. "Is it a pony?" he asked, as he took the box and shook it.

Tasuki grinned, "Yeah, her name's Bessie. Treat her good, ya hear?" He teased, getting himself and Tamahome a cup out. "Ya want sake or somethin' else?" He stuck his tongue out at the thought of other liquor, but that was only because there was sake around. If Tama opted for something else, though, he'd drink it, just to be nice.

Tamahome held out the bottle and poured both of them a sizable amount from the jug. Turning the box around in his hands, Tamahome found the flap and tore yet another present open with bouncy glee. Opening it up, he held out the fresh clothes. "Very nice." He said, nodding and examining the shirt. "Am I supposed to wear this tonight?"

The innocent comment flooded his cheeks with color. He hadn't meant for it to sound like a piece of lingerie. He held up the sake and waited for Tasuki to do the same, hoping that the dirty innuendo had only occurred to him in his sensitive state.

Tasuki lifted the cup to his lips, "Hell yeah, ya are. I'd feel bad if ya didn't." He tipped the cup and downed some of it. He wasn't going to go easy on the sake... well, not until later. He had to keep an eye on Tamahome tonight, so his drinking was limited to the two bottles he'd bought earlier.

It wasn't until the sake reached his stomach that he realized exactly what and how Tamahome's comment came out. Swallowing a little more sake, he pushed the thought out of his mind. "I'll change out here while you change in the car. It might be kinda cramped, but its more private an' anybody comin' early wouldn’t be able to see ya. That okay?"

He hefted his bag, glad that he was about to change clothes, he probably smelled like desire and needed to hurry and change before Tamahome caught a whiff of him. He was damn happy for the slight breeze that was blowing his scent away from Tamahome.

Tamahome was happy for the suggestion of splitting up. He didn't want to be anywhere close to Tasuki when he had his pants off, especially when he smelled how he was. The breeze blew most of it away, but his twice-damned nose could pick up musk from a room away. It was a smell he was pretty used to. People smelled like that most of the time actually. Usually it was just so slight that it didn't bother him. Tonight however...

He slunk away to the car and got to dressing. The pants were trouble to get on in such a small space. They were a little snug, but they looked pretty good from what he could tell. He got out of the car and zipped up the rest of the way, trying to catch a glimpse of his reflection in the side view. It didn't go so well, so he gave up and presented his new attire to the awaiting Tasuki. "How does it look?" He turned around and struck a pose with a cat-like grin.

Tasuki had also changed, and... unfortunately for him, he looked incredible in the dress clothes he picked out for himself. "Nice." Tama said, trying to choke down his real reaction. The kitsune inside him wanted to pounce again, but the distance between them kept it from being uncontrollable.

Tasuki grinned, "Ya look great." He admitted, if only barely managing to keep from spitting out the wrong word. Edible was more what he wanted to say, but kept it behind his teeth. "Now, we just gotta wait-" his sentence was cut off by the roar of a few engines. "Heh, looks like we didn't wait long. Come on, let’s go greet your guests." He slung an arm around Tamahome's neck and pulled him to the first of many cars that showed up.

TBC…

Reviewer Replies: Arigato, Kuragari-san! I'm glad that you hate me when I cut off... that means you're not satisfied and will return.