Birthday Wish

Birthday Wish

By: Yahnkehy

Author's notes: Fourth and final installment. Thank you so much for your comments and criticism. Concrit is love.

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 were mine. I own a Tasuki plushie... does that count?


Tamahome stirred in bed, pulling the covers up. He felt far too cold even with the blanket still completely around him. He shivered once. His body felt terribly weak. His stomach growled at him and his head was spinning. He must have had too much to drink at the party, though he didn't remember being that drunk. Everything ached. It felt like he had a hangover all over.

"Mmm ahh, oww." He winced as he tried to move his arm to his pillow. It smelled different, not unfamiliar, but it didn't smell anything like his bed. He cracked open an eye and looked up to what should have been ceiling. His eyes popped open, at the site of coils and bars above him. He started and knocked his aching elbow into something else.

Tasuki groggily shifted and pulled Tamahome back against him, sleepily falling into the routine from the night before and adjusting Tamahome's hips back onto his belly. "Mm, gonna hafta wait. I got not more energy, Tama." He mumbled, nuzzling his nose into Tamahome's neck and breathing deeply. "An' don't ya dare growl at me. I been up all night givin' ya what ya want, now I wanna sleep."

Tasuki tightened his grip around Tamahome's hips and pressed a soft kiss to his neck, still not bothering to open his eyes. "Later, I'll give ya more later." He grumbled and dozed off.

Tamahome froze. Tasuki, oh god, had he done something to him? He craned his neck trying to look back without moving, just to double check. There really was no need though. He was naked and Tasuki felt half-dressed. They were in bed together and Tasuki had mumbled something about giving him more. Ugh, this was terrible... terrible in a very... ‘wow this feels good’ kind of way.

Tamahome shook off that wrong thought. He knew what the pheromones could do to humans; it was nearly impossible to resist. Then he realized what happened. Something furry brushed against his leg and his blood froze. His bracelet. Tamahome snapped his fingers over the bare skin that should have been wrapped in its magic, but came up empty. Tasuki had seen him. Who else had?

Tama shot out of bed, running to the mirror. Fox eyes, tail and ears all stared back at him. His fingernails were now sharp claws, bits of dirt and blood spattered on them. "Oh god." he muttered.

Tasuki's eyes snapped open and he bolted upright. "Ta-" He stopped, hand reaching towards the boy who had been in his arms a moment ago, and stared at Tamahome. Judging by the reaction Tamahome was having and how he was looking at himself in the mirror, Tasuki guessed that Tamahome was back to normal. "Uh, mornin', Tama."

He rubbed his eyes and hitched his jeans back up into place but didn't bother to fasten them. Tamahome obviously had to know what had happened so there was no sense in acting like it was nothing, "You okay?"

Tamahome jumped at Tasuki's voice, plucking a dirty shirt from the floor and covering himself with it. "You saw." Tama whimpered, still sounding a lot like a wild animal. His tail curled around his thigh in embarrassment and his ears slunk downward. "I'm sorry for..." He wasn't entirely out of control, he remembered. He remembered everything, not so clear, but there.

"Thank you." He said, lowering his tail. The urge would have driven him mad if he didn't get it out. Tasuki must have seen that and just let him do what he needed. The preternatural pheromones did the rest. Tama felt guilty, knowing that his friend would have been safer if he hadn't harbored feelings for him and knowing that he was secretly happy that things had gone the way they had. Even if he and Tasuki were never going to be anything, it was nice to have memories. Tamahome squinted his cat-eyes, trying to see under how nice Tasuki was acting. Anything would be ok as long as he didn't push him out of his life entirely.

Tasuki cocked a brow, confused, then blushed dark red and looked away in embarrassment. He had sort of hoped that Tamahome would remember, but too afraid of what that would mean to wish too hard for it. "Don't thank me, Tama. I took advantage of ya." He said softly, eyes trained on the mess of clothes on the floor. "Thank you, Tama, for- well. Yeah."

Tasuki sucked at articulating anything that had to do with emotion, so he settled for being gruff and tight lipped. Unfortunately, that wouldn't work now. "Look, I'm sorry I took advantage of you, but –well, I couldn't help myself." He trailed off in a whisper then shook his head. "Sit down, I'll get ya some antiseptic for your neck."

"You bit me?!" Tama yelped, flinging a hand to his neck. "Oh god, I forgot." Tamahome chewed his lip, "Don't worry about it," he said, fingering the little bite marks left in his skin. "The scent ...it's –well, it's hard to explain, but I understand."

Of course Tasuki couldn't help himself. Tama doubted if there was a human around who could. He had been around when his mother had gone into heat and it was actually hard for him –Him! Her own son –to control himself. The bite on the other hand... that was something to worry about. It was a dominance thing, but in his stupid animal mind, it meant possession. His cheeks colored, thinking of just how nice it would have been if Tasuki had done that on his own accord instead of under some hypnotic sex scent.

Tasuki's eyes went wide at the obvious distress that remembering the bite gave Tamahome. "Hey, I tried to say sorry about bitin' ya last night, but ya said I could, so I did it again. That's why it looks so bad. I ain't worried about that damn scent, I think I'm immune to it now as much of it as I breathed in."

He got to his feet and stretched, his back popping nicely, then he went to his desk to find the antiseptic ointment to put on Tamahome's neck. "Still, I guess I shouldn't a done that, so lemme fix it." He stopped in front of Tamahome, ointment cream in his hand and a wry grin on his lips.

Tama returned the smile. He had bitten him. It was just something he would have to deal with on his own. "Thanks." He had said Tasuki could. Why wouldn't he? Tamahome had been secretly dreaming of that very thing for a few years now. Ugh, this was all screwed up. He tilted his head to the side to allow Tasuki to dab on the ointment. "You don't have to worry about it for another few months now." he said, wincing at the sting of the antiseptic. "Normal mating season's in the spring time, so take a trip to Cancun or something and stay far away."

He really hadn't thought that Tasuki was in much trouble, always believing that the urge would make him chase down a random girl to breed with. He had no clue that it was just going to heighten his own sexual drive.

Tasuki's hand stilled for a moment then resumed daubing the ointment on, blowing to reduce the sting. "Nope. I'm gonna be right here with ya. I told ya last night that I'd never leave when ya need me. Besides," He paused and took a breath, now or never. "I don't mind."

There, he'd said it as plainly as he was going to. If Tama still wanted him gone, well, he'd just have to tell his friend to get over it. There was no way in hell he was going to let someone else touch what was his. He blinked and thought about what had just gone through his mind. "Aw shit," he sighed, recalling that he had told Tamahome that he belonged to him last night as well.

Tamahome blinked out of the temporary mind haze that Tasuki's breath on his neck sent him to. "You... don't mind?" Surely there had to be some kind of... mistake? "You mean about...Tasuki... I have to tell you something." Tamahome turned in his seat to face his friend.

He needed to know that this wasn't just some kind of charity work. It wasn't something that he could 'be ok' with if it were. "I..." he choked up. He couldn't tell him he was gay NOW. Tasuki would think the whole kitsune thing was a ploy or... what if he accused him of setting him up? "I... lost my bracelet." he couldn't. "I need to get it back or else I don't think I'm going to school for the rest of my life." he said with a little relieved smile. He would have to wait to tell Tasuki something like that, wait till a point when it felt less contrived.

Tasuki stepped back and touched Tamahome's wrist, "Yeah, ya tore it off but I don't remember where it went after that. I was... well, lets go back to the lake an' look for it. Just... uh, well, put a hat on to hide the ears and lets tuck your tail under your shirt. Ya know, kinda wrap it around your hips like ya di-" he broke off and immediately changed where that sentence was headed, "and we can go."

He put a little distance between them, stepping behind his friendly face so that Tamahome would feel more comfortable. It was obvious that Tama was upset about what he'd admitted, so he took it in stride and went back to the usual shell. "It'll be okay, we'll find your bracelet, Tama." He smiled wide and patted Tamahome's shoulder in a gesture of friendship then turned to find clean clothes. The pants he was wearing had a rather interesting white flaky stain right around the zipper that he really didn't need for other people to see.

Tamahome slumped. It sucked that he couldn't get himself up to talking about his sexual preference even around his best friend, but it was better that way. If Tasuki thought it was just some kind of duty that he needed to perform as a friend of a kitsune, then so be it. He'd leave out the part where he still would have chosen him whether in heat or not. "We better find it." Tama repeated as he carefully dropped the shirt covering him in favor of pulling on pants.

The first pair he lifted up looked like he had grown ten sizes while still wearing them. They were shredded, no doubt in an effort to get undressed in a hurry. He abandoned the search on the floor and picked a fresh pair out of the drawer. "These are the ones you just bought me," he said, with a sigh, holding out the shredded jeans.

Tasuki grinned and shook his head. "That's okay, it ain't like they were important. I think our shirts are still out there so that'll give us a clue about where to look."

Being modest where Tamahome was concerned had died not long into the night and so he simply dropped the stained jeans and grabbed boxers and a pair of loose pants. His back sort of twinged from Tamahome's claws, but he wasn't about to complain.

"Oh, if a couple of the guys from down the hall see ya, act like ya got a hangover. I told 'em that ya drank too much so that I could carry ya without no one gettin' suspicious." He grinned and turned to grab a couple of shirts out of the closet and tossed one to Tamahome.

Tamahome caught the shirt and nodded. "Ok." He was staring. Shaking his eyes unstuck and squeezing them tightly. "Um, yeah… No problem." he squeaked out. The itch was back and his foxy self was whispering for him to scratch, but with the insanity of his 18th birthday behind him, he had control over it. "Let's go." he said, grabbing a hat and flattening his ears down.

"Yep." Tasuki grabbed his keys and his wallet before stepping into his shoes and following Tamahome out of their room. He sidled up beside Tamahome and whispered in his ear. "Security came by last night, so if they stop me just tell 'em that ya weren't home last night. I doubt they're still on shift at this hour, but just incase." He straightened and tucked his hands into his pockets. They rode the elevator down to the lobby and Tasuki continued walking casually towards the guard desk as they neared the front doors.

"I was wondering when you were going to come out." A voice remarked from behind them. The tall guard from the night before stepped out from the bathroom doors and grinned. "Thought it was funny shutting the doors on us?" he chuckled, glancing over at Tamahome with a sneer. "That's just disgusting." he mumbled, barely audibly under his breath as he walked behind the counter and grabbed an envelope.

Tamahome couldn't help the low growl that rumbled at the back of his throat. Low and warning as he watched the man. He had heard him loud and clear with his keen ears, even if they were stuffed behind a baseball cap. He grabbed at his waist to keep his tail from bristling.

"One summons down to Housing. Have a nice day." he smiled with sick sarcasm.

Tasuki growled and snatched up the envelope, tearing it open to scan the ticket. "Hey, I don't got no damn animals in my fuckin' room, bastard. I ain't takin' this." He snarled and threw the ticket in the guard's face. "You're off duty anyway, I ain't gotta take this shit."

The guard clapped a hand on Tasuki's shoulder and spun him around, catching his collar and jerking him close. "Listen, you punk, you're gonna take that ticket and you're going to pay the fine at Housing."

Instinct kicked in. Tamahome leaped at the guard. His claws caught his shoulders and both of them went barreling over the desk. Off came his baseball cap and out came his fangs. He was growling at the man who had lost his snide smirk and was now wide eyed in horror. The sour scent of fear rolled off of him.

"Y-... what the fuck are you?" he stuttered, staring at the fangs and the cat-eyes coupled with the gray ears and claws.

"Stay away from him!" Tamahome barked, swatting the man's hand away as he shakily tried to reach for the phone to call for help. His arm was now bleeding, deep claw marks in his forearm.

Tasuki leapt over the desk and grabbed Tamahome by the waist, pulling him off of the guard. "Shh, Tama, calm down." He held the pissed off kitsune to his chest, petting his hair soothingly. He glared down at the guard, "I'll pay the fine, you forget that this happened or I'm gonna turn him loose on ya again. Are we clear?"

The guard nodded, his eyes wide in fear and horror. "Get it away!" He scooted back, his head banging into the wall behind him in his hurry to get away.

Tamahome spit and snarled at him, but obeyed his mate's wishes, following him out of the large glass doors without taking his eyes off of the fallen man. He reached down and picked up his hat, fixing it over his ears again. He shook his head. He could control things for the most part, but strong emotions were tricky. He could still feel the urge to protect bubbling under his skin. "Did he hurt you?" he asked when they were far enough away.

Tasuki shook his head, "Nah, but I doubt we'll hafta deal with him again. I think he pissed himself. I didn't think ya had it in ya to fight, Tama."

He wasn't sure if he felt warm and fuzzy because Tamahome had started a fight to protect him or if it was because of the way Tamahome had told the guard not to touch him. Possessive and angry, Tamahome had looked so beautiful in that moment that Tasuki had become instantly hard.

Tamahome gave Tasuki a once over, just to make sure he wasn't lying about not being hurt. He decided his part... no his friend was ok, so he trotted up next to him, tugging on his cap to make sure it was tight.

"I hate people wh-" As he got closer a scent hit him like hitting a brick wall. Tasuki was... turned on. Even as he was telling himself not to look, his eyes darted down to his friend's waist. Jeans couldn't hide what someone was specifically looking for. His gut reacted in a not so innocent way and Tamahome's head swam with the heady aroma of Tasuki's arousal. He had to put a hand out, steadying himself on Tasuki's shoulder. "Eh... um... sorry, I got a little... wow."

Tamahome closed his eyes and tried to clear his head. It wasn't working. He bit his lip. "You know… I think... I think I'll be fine from here. You must have… um... studying or... something?" he fished for a reason to exclude his roommate from the rest of the day.

Tasuki cocked a brow. "You okay? You're face is all red." He tipped Tamahome's chin up and pressed their foreheads together to check Tamahome's temperature. "You feel a little warm. Maybe I should go find the bracelet an' you should go back to bed." Straightening, he turned Tamahome towards the dorms. "Go back to bed, I know ya gotta be... sore. I'll find that bracelet an' bring it back to ya."

He patted Tamahome's shoulder and trotted off to the car. "I'll see ya." He waved, a friendly smile on his lips as he slid into the car. Once the door closed, he sighed and rested his head against the steering wheel for a moment. He knew Tamahome had smelled his arousal. That had to be the reason for the sudden change in wanting him to go along. "Fuck, what am I gonna do?" He muttered and sat up, starting the car.

Tamahome stopped his hands from clutching at Tasuki's shirt and stood in the courtyard until he couldn't see his friend anymore. As he left, the scent got weaker and Tama was less inclined to hurtle over bushes to tackle his friend, but it didn't make the need that arose go away. Tamahome grumbled to himself, tugged on his hat and retreated through the double doors.

The guard, still huddled in the corner, yelped and tried his hardest to merge with the wall when Tamahome came back through. Tama gave him a glare out of the corner of his eye, but didn't stop. He needed to get back to his room before something else like that happened. Tama pressed the up arrow and waited. A group of three boys came in, waiving their id badges half-heartedly to the curled up guard.

"Hey man, what the hell is up with him?" Tama heard one of them whisper to his friend as they came down the hall.

"Who knows, he's an ass, maybe someone finally busted his balls about it," another replied with a laugh. "That guy busted me for having a beer last Tuesday. One beer! Guy's a dick."

The group came to wait with Tamahome at the elevator, one pressing the button again like it would matter. Tama exchanged an acknowledging nod with one he happened to catch eyes with. He smiled, a little twitchy because of the feeling, and tried to will the lift faster. One of them smelled really good. The elevator dinged its arrival and they piled in. The doors shut and the scent got stronger. Tama dug his claws in to his palm, trying to focus in on the pain instead of the speeding up of his pulse. He looked to his right and saw them all looking back. He was expecting them to be staring at his oddly shaped shirt, or his way too real 'contacts' but they were looking at him with a completely different intention. Tama's heart stopped. His pheromones must have been at it again, and in this cramped space, they were working a number on them.

One walked closer. Fuck! This was the one who smelled like heaven. Tama wanted to back away, but he wasn't moving. He was locking eyes with the boy, licking his lips and inching forward. Why was this the longest elevator ride in history? His nails dug into his hand, but it wasn't distracting him any longer. His body shivered and he was surrendering to the urge he thought was over. His hat dropped, his tail uncurled and all three of them surrounded him.

Tenth floor. The elevator chimed and the doors opened a few seconds too late. Tamahome whined, pulling one out of the elevator in a lip lock, teeth nibbling the boy's lower lip. The others followed, all three had their hands all over him, fighting to tear off his clothes before they even got to his room. They fell in, one had the great idea to shut the door, but none bothered to make it to the bed. Somewhere beyond the lust and the animal thirst for sex, Tamahome wished Tasuki hadn’t restrained himself from biting him just one more time. He would have been off limits, no one but the man he actually loved would have been able to touch him, but it fell just short.

00

Tasuki stayed at the lake for a few hours, giving Tamahome the time alone that he seemed to need, his fingers twirling the bracelet. It hadn't been hard to find, almost as if it had been hung on the twig purposely. The sun was slowly setting when Tasuki finally managed to pull himself back together. So what if Tamahome didn't like him that way? He had been beside Tamahome for almost their entire lives, he wasn't about to let something as stupid as unrequieted love change that now.

A determined frown tightened his features and he got to his feet, striding back to the car with a plan firmly in mind. Do nothing. Hands off and do absolutely nothing. It was better than hanging on the poor guy.

Once back to the dorms, he strode inside, sweeping past the guard and heading directly to his room. As he made his way down the hall to his room, though, he started to rethink his plan. The scent of sex drifted to his nose and he groaned, altering his plan of ‘do nothing’ a little bit so that he could add in a lot of groveling. If the scent was this strong after so many hours, then he definitely had to apologize.

The door swung open and he stepped inside only to freeze. Tamahome was asleep in the middle of a pile of naked men and covered with multiple splatters of cum. Tasuki's heart clenched and his jaw tightened. "Sorry, didn't know I was invading your fuck-fest. Next time hang a fucking sign."

Tamahome bolted upright, his eyes popping open. "Tasuki!" He immediately recalled the past few hours and a deep flush colored his skin. Hi hands flung to the splotches of cum at his mouth and wiped at it. "Oh god, no..." Tamahome got to his feet and ran for his dresser. He pulled out a towel and wrapped it around himself. He picked up one of the guys and dragged him, bundling his clothes on his lap, to the shower.

"Tasuki, please... help?" Tamahome pleaded with his roommate. He could tell by his tone and body language –if not by the flared scent –that Tasuki was pissed, but if these guys knew about him, there was no way to explain it away.

By some kind of miracle, there was no one in the hallway. He tugged the boy, still groggy from sleep and over exertion, into the shower and through his clothes on him. Drunken night? Drugs? Odd fucking dream? He didn't care how they explained it away, but odds are none of them would have the balls to ask the other if it was real.

Tasuki snorted but helped drag the guys out of the room, if only because the sight of them sickened him. If he was a little rougher than was necessary, too damn bad. He refused to look at Tamahome, though. The sight of him looking thoroughly debauched had been stimulating, but the fact that he hadn't been the one to give Tamahome that look killed any arousal he might have had.

By the time he got the last of the men out of his room and into the showers with all of their belongings, he was a little more in control of his temper. He grabbed a towel and a clean set of clothes for Tamahome and shoved them at him. "Go one floor down and take a shower. You stink." He passed Tamahome and paused. "Come on. I'll keep watch... or should I leave you alone so you can find someone else to fuck?" He tossed down the bracelet that had dangled from his fingers and leaned back against the wall, calmly staring at the door instead of his best friend.

Tama snatched at the bracelet as if it were food dangled in front of a starving man. He tied it on tightly, examining the cracked bone beads carefully. His fox attributes faded and he sighed in relief despite himself. He agreed with Tasuki's not wanting to look him in the eye. He wouldn't want to see anyone after finding out that they had just had an impromptu orgy on the floor of his room either. "Ugh, I'll be right back."

He grabbed the clothes Tasuki had chucked at him and scurried away. He felt sick. His body was worn and his stomach was turned. The shower felt magnificent. He scrubbed hard at his skin; he didn't even know those guys’ names. He felt dirty, and he felt guilty. Tasuki had sacrificed something specifically so he wouldn't do something like that. Well, not exactly. He was certain that Tasuki didn't expect him to need to be fucking guys when this whole 18th birthday was laid out for him. Neither did Tamahome, actually. He had thought that he would be spared from it a little since he had no interest in women and it was purely a breeding ritual. He had not expected it to just heighten his sex drive to insanity.

He felt like crying. He stayed in the shower for much longer than he needed to be there, just making sure the ick was washed away from his mind as well as his body. Now that his bracelet was firmly back in place, he didn't feel the underlying bubble of clawing desire and that was reassuring.

Tama made his way back to his room, hoping that Tasuki would be there to talk to and hoping that he wanted to talk.

Tasuki took great pains to rid his room of the scent and puddles on the floor, his anger still smoldering as he muttered under his breath. He had no right to be angry, just because he'd spent the most amazing night of his life wrapped in Tamahome's arms didn't give him the right to be jealous. He had been a willing body to Tamahome's lust. That was it.

Knowing that didn't stop the hurt, though it did help cool his anger. What Tamahome did and with whom was his own business and as long as he kept reminding himself of that, it would stop hurting one day. He was a friend and that was it. That was how it had always been and, aside from last night, it would always be that way. He had just set down the air freshener when the doorknob turned and Tamahome came back in.

"Hey, sorry about before. What you do is your business, just leave a note or hang something on the door to warn me next time, okay? I didn't mean to be a jerk earlier. I was just surprised." His tone was light and his smile soft, he tightened the shell around him and it became a little easier to pretend that he wasn't desperately in love with his friend. As long as he didn't make eye contact, he'd be okay. As long as Tamahome stayed away, it would stop hurting. "No hard feelings, right?" He strengthened his smile; eyes falling shut to hide the lie.

Before Tamahome had a chance to open his mouth, Tasuki filled in the space. He was a little thrown off guard by how Tasuki bounced back. It was usually his style to brood over something. "Oh," he said dumbly, "No, no hard feelings. Sick feelings, maybe, but...sorry about that, really," he tried to smile despite the churning his gut felt.

He was happy Tasuki had gotten over the disgust, but he still had some explaining to do. "That won't happen again. Not as long as I'm not in heat and as long as I’ve got this." he tapped his bracelet. "But... um... do you have any, I don't know, questions?" he asked, still not sure how to start off his coming out speech.

"Hell no!" Tasuki burst out, turning pained and horrified eyes to Tamahome. "I don't wanna know nothin' about those guys touchin'-" Clamping a hand over his eyes, he sat on his bunk and sighed. "I mean, no, I don't have any questions but you looked like you wanted to talk, so go ahead and tell me." He kept his tone polite and his hand remained over his eyes.

If Tamahome started telling him about what he'd done with those guys, he might get sick or force Tamahome to shut up by any means necessary. He wanted to forget that he wasn't the only one to ever touch Tamahome, wanted to forget how Tamahome had looked, and how much it hurt to have just been a dick –a fuck to Tamahome. He fell back on his bed with a groan, rubbing his hands over his face in an attempt to get himself calm enough to hear this terrible series of events.

The lingering scent of Tamahome's arousal from the night before rose up around him, his own scent mingled in with Tamahome's. He bolted upright, not wanting to remember last night especially when that memory was tainted with the knowledge that only hours later Tamahome had gone to someone else... three someone else's. "Ya know what? I do have a question. Just one, but ya don't have to answer it. Did you need to have... more than... more than one partner to be satisfied? Is that why you had to keep waking me up to go again? Because I wasn't enough? No, don't answer that, I don't want to know. Never mind, forget it. What were you going to tell me?"

Tamahome was about to ease into his conversation. He was readying the words, how he was going to tell Tasuki he had been seeking a male mate and what that meant, when a question dawned on his friend. Tama looked at him with wide eyes.

"Truthfully?" Tama started out cautiously. "It's just a constant need… well... you know, without the magic it is. So, really I guess the number of mates depends on how often the one is willing to... uh, you know, no, that's... that’s not really important. It's not like I'm going to have to worry about that any more." he tapped his bracelet, "No more random sexual encounters because I can't control how my needs get filled. I had meant about... well, who or what rather, I... you know... picked." Tamahome bit his lip, finally free of the sharp fangs, and looked up nervously to Tasuki.

Tasuki absorbed the information, still unsettled that he'd had to see Tamahome in a situation like that but less hurt. If he couldn't control it, then it had to have been Tasuki's fault for not making sure he made it back to the room without falling prey to his lust. "Wait. You picked someone? Heh, guess I need to go apologize to her, too." He scratched the back of his neck and swallowed hard. "I'm sorry I took advantage of ya. But, well, out in the woods ya looked afraid an' then that scent... but, that don't excuse me for continuing to do it after we came back here." He muttered, his gaze away from Tamahome's and a slight blush on his carefully blanked face.

"But, anyway, ya don't gotta worry about me touchin' ya again. I hope that the girl ya picked makes ya happy. I'd offer to throw ya a party, but I dunno nothin' about kitsune type matin' and stuff." He forced out cheerily, a wide smile curving his lips. He was anything but happy, but as long as the girl that Tamahome had picked was making him happy, then that was all he could ask for.

An uncomfortable half smile wavered on Tama's lips. "Yeah," he sighed. "About that..." He took a breath, steadying himself for the coming out he hadn't rehearsed. Her; it's was just how people assumed it went. He didn't know if he should be blaming the media, the political figures that refused to integrate homosexuals, or the people who refused to open their eyes, but it made the whole thing terribly difficult.

"Tasuki… about the woods. Well. I really thought that you would be safe. Hell, I thought I would be safe from the whole thing because I thought it was all mating, like breeding, but well, I guess it's not. You see…" another breath." I thought I was safe because I thought it would make me try and chase girls." he stopped, that wasn't how it should have come out. "Tasuki. I'm gay."

He had said it in a moment of frustration since nothing else was coming out right, but there it was. Out. Out and easier to say again, "I'm gay. I never told you, because I really didn't think you would ever have to find out, but well." he lifted up his hands as if that would explain everything and waited.

Tamahome's words rang in his head. He'd said it so bluntly; 'I'm gay'. A choked giggle started to bubble out of Tasuki's mouth and then it grew to full on laughing. He flopped back on his bed, rolling onto his side. His relieved laughter interrupting the words that he was trying to say. "Th- haha. Thank the gods!" He laughed some more, pounding on the bed with one fist. "I thought- haha, I thought you were gonna hate me. Haha, for likin' ya!"

His laughter slowed and he sat up, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. Tasuki grinned at Tamahome, "I kinda, well, I kinda- ya know. I tried kissin' that girl I dated back in high school, I didn't do it though. It didn't feel right, ya know?"

Tamahome frowned, crossing his arms and tapping his foot. He had expected disgust, appall, fear, but not for his best friend to make fun of him. His stomach felt sour and he would have gotten up and left if he had anywhere to go. But then, Tasuki said something Tamahome never thought he would hear him say. His arms fell to his sides, and his jaw tried to follow. "I-I thought." Tamahome was at a loss for words.

Tasuki had always been a ladies man. He hung around the girls' locker room in high school more than his classes, he talked about women all the time and he had had a few girlfriends since he had known him. A thought suddenly occurred to him. Tasuki had never introduced him to these girls... ever. In fact, he had broken up with them before Tama ever got a chance to meet them.

"Well," he said gaining back his words. "It's a little more difficult than that," he said cautiously. "...When you say 'like' what do you mean?" Tama eyed his friend and waited the answer. Perhaps it could be just as simple as that.

Tasuki cocked a brow, looking at Tamahome's face searchingly for a moment or two before he shook his head and got to his feet. "Well, that kinda depends. Are ya gonna hit me or accept it if I tell ya? I saw what happened to that guard when he pissed ya off; I really don't wanna get the same treatment. But, I guess I might as well tell ya. You're not gonna stop bein' my friend over it, since ya kinda understand what its like."

He took a deep breath and folded his arms over his chest, leaning back against the foot of the bunk beds. "I mean 'like' as in wanna hold ya. Keep you as mine an' not share ya with nobody." He shrugged and gave a small wry smile. "Not that I think it'll do me much good, but there it is. Now, I don't want ya gettin' all weird around me, I know how to keep my hands to myself so ya don't gotta worry 'bout me tryin' nothin'. I'm still the same guy I always was, just now ya know what I feel about ya. Anyway, that ain't important, who was your guy? Is he hot? Good to ya?" He could do this, he could support Tamahome and be just his friend. He could go down to the lake when Tama had his boyfriend over for the night or something. As long as he didn't have to watch them being mushy too much, then he could handle it.

A smile grew on Tamahome's lips. Relief flooded him like a monsoon in a desert. "Yeah. He's hot and he's extremely good to me," he said, a sly smile in his eyes that were now his cool slate blue again. "Never even batted an eyelash when I told him about the Kitsune thing."

Tama took a step closer to Tasuki. "Known him for as long as I've been alive and it seems like I've loved him twice as long." Another step and he draped his arms over Tasuki's shoulders, sliding his eyelids partway down. "Bite me one more time and you'll get your wish." He winked, a playful little gesture he wasn't too wont to do outside of his fox-state.

Tasuki's mind whirled as he tried to come up with a face to go along side the description, slightly irritated that Tamahome could like –no, love someone and Tasuki never see it or catch on. He was confused as to why Tamahome was moving towards him, but when Tamahome's arms draped over his shoulders and he'd requested to be bitten again, Tasuki finally figured it out. Him. Tamahome was in love with him!

His mouth worked, trying to form words to voice his surprise but instead his arms slid around Tamahome's hips and pulled him close. "Tama, are –are you for real?" His pulse was racing and his breathing was speeding up, "What do ya mean, 'bite you and my wish will come true'?" He dipped his head and pressed a tentative kiss to Tamahome's lips, watching his eyes for the slightest hint of changing his mind.

Tamahome filled in the space and pressed his lips to Tasuki's, sealing his confession in a passionate kiss. "For real." he agreed when the kiss broke, nodding his head. Tama peeked open an eye and glanced up. Had he moved to fast? Had Tasuki really not been ready for consensual male/male contact?

Tasuki's arms tightened possessively around Tamahome's hips, a blush coloring his face. He knew Tamahome could feel him pressed against his hip and knew that he probably smelled strongly of desire, but having Tamahome come to him, accepting his kiss... he could care less about being obviously aroused.

One hand moved from Tamahome's hip to fist in his hair, angling his lips close once more. "So, if I bite you, you'll only be mine? You swear? I don't like to share, Tama, be sure that's what ya want before ya promise me." His breath feathered over Tamahome's lips and their eyes locked. "Once I tell ya that I love you, I don't intend to let anyone ever touch you again. So be absolutely sure that this is what ya want."

Tamahome winced, Tasuki's words reminding him of the three unwanted mates his more animal-half had taken in Tasuki's absence. "I wish you had earlier." Tama said, resting his forehead to Tasuki's. "It's a partnering instinct and even though it's only my kitsune side, it's ingrained deep in me." he explained, wanting nothing more than to reach up and kiss Tasuki's lips, but knowing he should explain before he got too swept away. "Mates that want a possessive claim, bite their mate during sex. Three times and its a sealed deal. I mean, forever, no going back."

Tamahome looked up into Tasuki's eyes. "I think it's me who should be asking you if you're sure." He shrugged with a sad smile. "I won't be able to go anywhere, even if you decide you're done."

Tasuki shivered, Tamahome was putting his happiness on the line. If Tasuki bit him and sealed Tamahome to him forever, then that was going to be it for Tamahome. He'd never have another mate. Something clicked in the back of his head and a growl rumbled deep in his chest. "Then I guess you're gonna be stuck with me for a long fuckin' time."

He licked Tamahome's lips then trailed kisses to his jaw, slowly working his way towards the ring of teeth-shaped bruises on Tamahome's shoulder. He sucked on the side of Tamahome's neck, glad to find the scent and taste of soap and clean skin. His lips grazed the bruises, "Last chance to stop me." His tongue flicked over the mark he'd left the night before. "I love you, Tamahome." He whispered, then his teeth found and sunk into the skin.

"Aaa!" Tamahome's eyes rolled up under his lids and his body quivered. He hadn't thought Tasuki would do it right away, but then again, what else had he expected? His skin remembered Tasuki's touches and reacted perfectly, pulling out his natural scent along with the temping kitsune's this time around. Tasuki smelled beautiful and it roused Tamahome further, pulling moans from his parted lips. His knees felt weak and his body was hot. "I love you, too, Tasuki." he breathed against his lover's neck.

Tasuki's hand slid down to cup Tamahome's ass, pulling him tight against his erection. "You're mine now, Tama." He whispered against Tamahome's neck. "You can't go to no one else –wait," He leaned back and looked into Tamahome's eyes. "I know for sure that ya can't leave me, but... what about you? Do ya need t'bite me too to make sure that I won't look at nobody but you? I won't, but just for yer piece of mind?"

Tamahome reached up and pulled Tasuki's mouth back to his lips. "No." Tamahome said shaking his head. "Doesn't really work that way. I could bite you too, but… one, you already claimed me, two, you're not a kitsune, so the curse doesn't bind you at all." Tamahome smiled at Tasuki, "I trust you." he said, raising his hips a bit to feel the amazingly hard arousal against his. "Mmmm, Tasuki, don't worry about that now."

Sure, the kitsune was calmed in him with the bracelet and its previous mating rituals, but Tamahome couldn't help a little bit of the need seeping through to himself when he was allowing it to. "Take me." Tama whispered into Tasuki's ear.

Tasuki didn't need to be told twice. His lips found and claimed Tamahome's, pulling him tightly to his chest. The hand gripping Tamahome's ass slid down further, pressing slightly against the one place he couldn't wait to be inside. His other hand busied itself un-tucking Tamahome's shirt and slid under it to play with perked pink nipples.

He spun Tamahome to face the bed frame, slipping a hand into Tamahome's pants to circle his erection. Tasuki pressed his arousal hard against Tamahome's ass, grinding against him. "Ya say it like that an' I loose it." he whispered against the back of Tamahome's ear. "Ya make me forget how to be gentle an' I just wanna fuck ya hard." He nibbled Tamahome's ear, licking the lobe before sucking it into his mouth.

Tamahome closed his eyes. Tasuki's words washed over him, coating him in desire. They penetrated his mind and his body burned for them to be reality. He could feel his already hard erection begin to throb with need. "Tasuki." he purred his lover's name into the metal frame that rose to the second bunk. A sly smirk pulled up one side of his lips and he said it one more time, "Take me, Tasuki."

Tama had always imagined their first time as kind of awkward, and shy, but the confident and powerful words made him forget how to be shy and his muscles remembered how it felt to have Tasuki inside of him, even if he had only been half there at the time. He purred in approval of the firm hand around his cock, arching his back into the raging erection just under Tasuki's pants.

Tasuki growled, unbuttoning Tamahome's pants and shoving them down to his knees. The fire in his gut raged higher, spurred on by Tamahome's seductive words and he quickly pressed a finger into Tamahome's tight heat. A groan escaped him and he prepared Tamahome as quickly as possible without hurting him. "Hold on to somethin'." He growled and shifted his own pants down as well.

He spit on his palm, slicked himself then pressed inside slowly, savoring every inch as he sank into Tamahome's body. "Nnn, ya don't know what ya do to me, Tama." He panted harshly against the back of Tamahome's ear. "Ya feel so goddamned good around me."

Tamahome obeyed, grabbing hold of one of the bed's bars. His legs felt weak with desire but his hands gripped the pole, tightening as the thick heat eased inside of him. His head flung backwards with a cry that was a little painful, but happy. Tasuki. Tasuki was inside of him. Another shiver embraced Tama as the thought sunk in. Tasuki was fucking him. The man who had been the star of all his fantasies since Tamahome was old enough to fantasize. And it wasn't because he was in the clutches of alcohol or gripped by the scent of his demon form. Tasuki wanted to be –more than wanted, needed to be and the sweetly erotic words were tickling every nerve.

"Mmmm Tasuki… gods you feel good inside me." Tama growled, giving in to the raging desire that tore through him. He glanced over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the god that was behind him.

Tasuki's eyes rolled back in his head and his hips plunged forward, rocking Tamahome hard against the bed frame. He leaned forward, lips latched onto Tamahome's neck, sucking hard and leaving a small hickey. One arm tightened around Tamahome's hips while his free hand stroked Tama's weeping erection.

His hips moved faster, plunging deep, letting the fire that rolled up his spine control his movements. Tamahome's words fed the fire, his thrusts becoming harder as he caught Tamahome's lips and devoured that sweet mouth. It really hit him; Tamahome was his –forever! Never again would he have to sleep alone, or dream of what he was doing in this moment, it was his for the rest of his life. "Gods, Tama." he growled, gasping in a breath. "Mine, all mine." he whispered, his breath catching at the mere thought of always having Tamahome at his side.

"Aaaa –all... mmm, your –nnn... ss." Tamahome licked his lips. Tasuki could just talk him into orgasm. His words were like fire on his skin. They sunk in as deep as his thrusts and made him scream just as loud. His hips moved back in counter to Tasuki's rocking, taking in more with every stroke. A dazed smile drifted to his lips and his fingers began to shake around the metal pole they were gripping.

"More." He repeated his growled words from the night before. "Fuck me, Tasuki!" his lover's name ended in a strained moan and he bit his lips to keep from alerting security again.

Tasuki moaned in Tamahome's ear, his hand gripping Tamahome's hip tighter and pulling him into the hard thrusts. He grit his teeth against the passion that plunged into his gut at Tamahome's strangled words and he thrust as fast and hard as he could. Tamahome was tight and hot around him, the clenching heat sucking at him and pushing him towards his orgasm.

"Nnn, Tama. Ye-ss, more." Tasuki gasped out, stroking the weeping erection in his hand. He licked and nipped Tamahome's neck, his passions blazing out of control as he rocketed towards the building orgasm. "Cum for me, Tama. I-I wanna feel ya clench tighter around me," he panted, "I want ya to cum because I'm inside you, because I'm fucking you. You're mine!" His words gained volume, his end too close for him to hold on to it much longer, but he wanted Tamahome to cum first.

"AAA~ Taahhhh... mmm god I... Nnn, coming... I'm your- Yee- Tasuki AA~ " Tasuki's demands were wrenched from him. The clever words pulling Tama's orgasm out of him in a toe-curling moan that was unsuccessfully stifled by Tama's hand clasping over his mouth.

Tasuki grit his teeth and flew over the edge, Tamahome's strangled screams and clutching heat taking him over the edge. "T-Tam-mm-ah." he growled, stars bursting behind his eyes as he pushed every last inch of himself into Tamahome, spilling his release. His breathing came in gasping bursts and he clutched Tamahome to him, unmindful of the slick semen that had spilled over his fist.

He didn't want to leave Tamahome just yet, but his legs were starting to ache and he wanted to lay down and cuddle. With a whimper of loss, he pulled out and turned Tamahome into his embrace, bathing his face in kisses. He gently brushed back Tamahome's hair from his brow, a soft smile on his lips. "I think I prefer makin' love to ya when ya ain't a kitsune. Yer so much more vocal an' ya drive me crazy."

Tamahome's cheeks instantly reddened. He hadn't really stopped to think he was being 'vocal', but when he did, he realized just how many rooms down his neighbors would have been able to hear. "Was I too loud?" he asked, looking over at the door nervously.

Tasuki felt so amazing that Tamahome had forgotten himself in the throes of passion, so he was actually expecting someone to be banging on the door before he asked the question, but no one came. Tama relaxed a bit and hung on Tasuki's shoulders. His legs had gone out before they were finished and he was convinced that it was just Tasuki holding him up towards the end.

Tasuki grinned and settled Tamahome on the bed before crawling in beside him. "Hell no, ya weren't too loud. I like hearin' ya go nuts for me." Cuddling Tamahome to his side, Tasuki breathed a deep sigh.
"I hope I didn't hurt ya." He pet Tamahome's hair and tightened his arms around him.

He was tired from the amazing sex as well as the emotional roller coaster of the last day or so, and he pressed a soft kiss to Tamahome's head before whispering his love to the man at his side.

Tamahome relaxed. His nerves settled by Tasuki's cuddling. He happily gave in to his push toward the bed and nuzzled his nose into Tasuki's chest. Tasuki's eyes drifted closed and Tamahome smiled at him calmly. It was amazing how much can change in two days. Everything had changed since he woke up yesterday and who knew such a fairytale ending was waiting for him? Tama smiled and settled in to the curves that felt like they were made for his body. Something small and sharp bit into his skin and he jumped back a little to slap at it. His fingers clasped on the Kitsune tooth his mother had gifted him. He pulled it up and watched it dangle on it's chord of silk with a shake of his head.

"And they lived happily ever after." he grinned, giving the tooth a kiss and setting it back against his skin delicately. Tamahome wrapped his arms tightly around Tasuki's body, pulling him closer, and gave his neck a little lick before giving in to his own body's call for rest.

-End-