Dazzling

Dazzling


Who would have guessed that there were ten Chichiri/Chiri's in his prefecture. Tamahome glanced at the last names. None of them sounded particularly red flag, so he'd just started with the first and worked his way down. Six dead-ends later he hung up the phone and grabbed himself a blanket. The day was cold and damp and so was his body. Ignoring the sneezing and occasional shivers, he plodded on. Next was Suzumia Chiri. He picked up the phone and dialed.

Chiri was about to leave; ready to run after her friend when the sense that she should stay rolled over her. With a sigh of irritation, she sat beside the phone and waited for it to ring, knowing exactly who was going to be on the other end. It sucked sometimes to know when and who was calling, there was nothing left for surprise.

She picked up the phone and put it to her ear as soon as it began to ring. "Ohayo, Tamahome-kun no da." Just because she was in a different body, didn't mean that her gifts were any less present. "Nice to hear from you again."

He was stunned, floored actually, and for the first few breaths he didn't say a word… "Chi-... Chichiri? You know who I am?!" he burst out in surprise and excitement. He could feel the spark start to warm him again.

"Of course I do, no da. Are you calling about Tasuki? What did you do to him no da? He only told me that you left and weren't coming back." She answered brightly, though her tone did harden slightly towards the end of it. "I know you don't know his past, but you pushed him away." She shifted in her seat, rubbing her face with her free hand. "I think you should come over here and talk to me in person na no da. There are a lot of questions you need answers to and a lot of things you need to hear no da." She hung up at that. She’d have to call Amira and have her cancel her classes for the day. She had a feeling that this might take awhile.

Tamahome was still stunned silent when the dial tone kicked on. He just slowly hung up the phone. Everything he suspected was completely true and told to him in such a casual way. It knocked him for a loop. Chichiri was Chichiri, somehow here and with all his memories, only a girl, Terry WAS Tasuki, and ... that was as far as he got before her command to get over to her place registered in his head. He skimmed the yellow book page, got her address and zoomed over, book in hand.

There was a buzz at apartment 707 a few minutes later.

Chichiri had barely hung up with Amira when she felt Tamahome enter the building. Pressing the button to allow him up, she unlocked the door and went to the kitchen to make tea. She knew she had a few minutes before he could possibly come to the door, even with as high as his ki was running. The elevator could only go so fast. So, she got comfortable and waited for both the tea to boil and her wayward brother to come.

He knocked on the door and the feminine voice he had spoken to over the phone told him to come in. He was literally tingling with anticipation, he was going to see one of his brothers again, for sure this time and without the confusion and pretence that surrounded Tasuki. "Chichiri?" he asked the woman who was sitting in the chair.

Dark brown hair, cut short at her jaw, twin blue eyes and a wide happy smile greeted him as he stepped inside. "Please make yourself comfortable no da. I'm going to get the tea ready. Do you take cream and sugar no da? I can't recall."

He didn’t wait for her to stop talking. He flung his arms around her and squeezed tight. "Chichiri!" he said over and over again as if the word could be a spell to bring back his old life.

Chichiri smiled and hugged him tight, even though he had interrupted her very well planned out attempt at being calm. She felt the same tingle and sense of recognition as she had when she had first met Terry as a boy. He had been the epitome of the bandit boy of his past.

Now, she had a very big job on her hands. She had to explain just why Tasuki wouldn't wake up to a very emotional Tamahome. "Tamahome-kun, I'm very happy to see you no da, but I think you should sit down. We have a lot to talk about na no da."

He really didn't want to sit down, he felt the irrational urge to sit in Chichiri's lap as she told him her important thing, but curbed it and sat down on the couch. He made an attempt at being calm, but his leg wouldn't stop bouncing. "What is it?" he asked, that winning over the desire to ask her about everything he had questions for all at once.

Chichiri summoned the tea to the coffee table, rather than leave an obviously agitated Tamahome alone for the few moments it might take to go and get it herself. "Tamahome-kun, what do you remember about Tasuki-kun no da?" That was a simple enough way to start, once she could figure out what he knew of the bandit, she could decide what should be told and what should be held back.

"Remember about him?" the question didn't make much sense. "I remember everything, pretty much. I recalled the story just last night. I just found out about how he died though." he excitement dropped off at the memory. "Arrow through the stomach... but you said Terry IS Tasuki, so he's back with us." his voice was hopeful again.

Chichiri shook her head. "Almost no da. Not completely. He has Tasuki's soul, but not his memories no da. Tasuki wanted to be reincarnated but not have his memories returned. You didn't see him after you and Miaka-can left no da." How to word the rest of it without frightening Tamahome was nagging at her. He'd already left Terry once, assumably because of his being Tasuki and she had no idea how he might take the rest of the answer if she said it plainly. "He, well, he wasn't the same anymore no da."

"I don't understand," he said, furrowing his brow and frowning as he tried to figure it out. "What happened to him? I didn't read much more after I found out about the raid. Did someone do something to him?"

Chichiri shook her head again, "Nothing happened to him no da." She broke off then sighed loudly, trying to find a round about way of saying it without actually saying the words. "Okay, um, do you remember how he acted around you no da?" That was about as vague as she could get. Shaking her head she gave him a look. "You had better not freak out when you hear this no da. I'm going to tell you something that he told me in private, but only because I'm tired of playing 'dance around the answer' with you."

Getting to her feet, she paced over to him and sat on the floor at his feet. Taking one of his hands, she showed him the memory of Tasuki spending a night drinking heavily and telling her past self how much he wished he could hate Miaka for taking the one he wanted before he even had a chance to try. Showed him the drunken confession of loving someone that wouldn't love him back because the miko was too important. She ended the memory with Tasuki's last words on the subject. The last words he'd ever spoken aloud about Tamahome. "I'm glad he's gone, makes it easier t'forget how bad it hurts t'love him."

Tamahome fell silent and cast his eyes down as he opened them again. "I never knew. Not while I was there anyway. Miaka..." his voice cracked. "She always demanded all of my attention, and I willingly gave it to her." He felt stupid for not seeing it while it mattered, for causing his good friend pain.

Chichiri patiently waited for him to speak before crawling up on the couch beside him. "Tasuki requested to be born without his memories. He said that it was painful enough to know in one life and had no desire to hurt in another no da. Terry is an entirely different person, even though he carries the same soul. So, he is and isn't Tasuki no da."

"In this life, he's mostly been a quiet boy. His mother put demands on him as a child that was far too strict for someone so young to be able to do. He's got zero self-esteem, especially when it comes to the people he decides to love. He gives every ounce of himself and never asks for anything back, simply being in their company is enough for him no da. When the men he has dated in the past left him, he would come here and talk about it but he would never cry. He has excellent control of his emotions and would probably be able to watch someone he desperately loved walk out on him and not bat an eyelash until he was alone." She stopped and looked at Tamahome closely, watching his face for any signs of recognition.

"I walked out," he said flatly as he realized just what Terry must have been feeling. "I met him by chance in a bar and we... well we hit it off, but I was fairly drunk and didn't even realize he was a guy until... later. But I was thinking about it and I actually like him. Terry, that is... but I... I just recently realized my feelings for Tasuki, too." He shook his head and ran a hand though his hair. "It's like having to decide between two lovers, but they're both in the same body. It's just not fair to Terry for me to be in love with someone he no longer is, but I don't want to keep Tasuki locked away inside of him because I like Terry, either." He held his head in his hands. All the ‘different name, same spirit’ stuff was starting to get to him and his head was spinning trying to keep it straight. "I should talk to him, but... I don't know what to say. 'I love you because of who you used to be. Do you mind going away so I could be with him?' that'll hurt him much more."

Chichiri laughed at him, "You really are an idiot no da. As long as Terry and Tasuki share the same soul, they are the same person. All you have to do is wake him no da. Get to know Terry, decide if you like him as a person, for who he is and I'm sure that Tasuki will wake no da. Tasuki just said he didn't want his memories of you to haunt him no da. That doesn't mean you can't woo him awake." Standing up, she grabbed a half-cold cup of tea and sipped it sedately, "But you have your work cut out for you no da. He's gone."

Tamahome's eyes shot open. "Gone!? Where could he go? I only last saw him a few hours ago.” He jumped to his feet, "Chichiri, tell me where he's run off to."

Chichiri smiled, a cat-like expression that was reminiscent of her old life. "I can't just hand you all of the answers no da, but I can give you a hint. He's in the more rural areas. Opening a studio, I believe no da. Ask his doorman, Josh. He could tell you exactly, he was the one who arranged for the packing crew."

"Yeah, I'll need my wallet too." he said to himself, then frowned at Chichiri. "Do monks ALWAYS have to be needlessly cryptic?"

Chichiri grinned wider, "It's part of our charm na no da!"

Tamahome felt better, revived with new purpose that he hadn't felt in weeks. He gave Chichiri a smirk and a hopeless shake of his head. "I'll be back and I'm bringing Tasuki with me." He grabbed up the book and headed out the door towards Terry's apartment.

00

Josh had to admit that the job was a boring one, but it gave him time to surf the net and ogle the people who came in. When a semi-familiar face appeared at the door, he frowned. "Mr. Rowe isn't here anymore. He left your things though. You are 'Tamahome', right?"

Tamahome nodded to the man in a suit behind the counter. "I know he's gone, but did he leave an address? I need to talk to him again." He stood at the counter and waited for an answer and his things. He might be able to catch a bullet train to where Tasuki-- Terry had gone to before the end of the day if he was lucky.

Josh set the bag of possessions on the counter, a frown on his face. "Well, he didn't tell me not to tell anyone, but I don't know if he'd like it if someone came after him. He's a kind of weird guy. But, he seemed really happy when you came in with him the other day, so I guess I can give it to you." He flipped open the Rolodex and thumbed through the cards. "Ah, here it is. 27 Fair Way, Osaka." He scribbled down the address and handed it over. "You're going to surprise him?"

Tamahome smiled and nodded to his question. "I'm hoping that I don't get there and he's picked up and moved out again." He slipped the piece of paper in his pocket, flinging on his coat and putting the wallet away. He patted the breast pocket and took out the picture, smiling longingly at it. Wait for me Tasuki, please. He pleaded with the grinning bandit. "Thank you Josh. " he said as he rushed out the revolving doors. "Osaka, Osaka." He could catch a train there. It wouldn't take long, but in order to get tickets in such short notice he had to hurry.

Tamahome ran to the train station, purchased tickets and got on a train, heading southwest. While on the train, he took out the picture and thought about what, exactly, he could say.

00

Terry hated it, but he had to admit it didn't look too bad. He wasn't used to not having hair tickling his neck, it felt wrong. The cut he'd chosen had taken every possible inch off of the back but left enough of the rest to keep him from screaming about looking like his father. It was short-short, shaved to the base of his neck while being longer on top. It was a haircut for a businessman.

It sucked.

The tattoo had been put off; he couldn't quite bring himself to cover it yet and had skipped out on the appointment. The possible site for his studio was out too. It was in terrible condition, a lot of work would have to be put into it if he were going to make it decent. That had been put on hold, too.

He felt like he was waiting for something but couldn't figure out what. He got dinner out and reluctantly went back to his mother's vacation house. He'd wanted to stay out late, but there wasn't much to do in the sleepy little village and he was starting to think that he'd have to move again. He'd wait a few weeks before moving though, just to give the place a chance. He was there looking for a new start, the best thing to do would be to try for a little while. Flipping through the mindless bombarding of infomercials, he stayed awake late into the night.

The train pulled into the Osaka station at two am. The travel wouldn't have been so long had it not been so late when he started out. Tickets were sold out for the earlier trains and the subway lines he needed were inoperable by the hour he left. Still, he was here. He had actually never been to Osaka before. It was quiet. The famous statues were all over the station; odd grinning lion headed dogs greeted him at every corner. He wandered away from the station, staring at the map he purchased and trying to figure out his way around.

The streets were silent except for the humming of insects and an occasional passing by of a few young adults, out trying to be frightening. With no one to ask, it took Tamahome a bit to find the block he was looking for. It was amazing how different the streets were here than in Tokyo. It was more like how he had grown up, more like the what-he-thought-was-bustling city of Konan before he understood just exactly how BIG a city could get.

With a few wrong turns and a trip around the block to find the correct number, he stood outside of the house. It was a nice one, big, with a lot of land for this area. Inside, one window still glowed with the yellow light of a lamp. He took a breath and hid the map away, then knocked on the door.

Terry frowned and glanced blearily at the clock. Who in their right mind would be coming to visit at three thirty in the morning? He groaned and got to his feet, wiping his face free of the beginnings of tiredness.

He peeked out the side window by the door, but the glass was rippled and all he saw was a vague blur. Tugging the thin blanket over his shoulders more tightly, he opened the door. The man on the other side was cast in shadow, but he knew who it was. The profile was enough to tell him. He slipped on the blank face again and turned on the porch light. "May I help you, Tamahome?"

It was certainly not the greeting he had expected. Happy, ok; angry, sure, but cold and blank? He wasn't ready for that. "Um. Can I come in?"

Terry left the door open and walked away, going back to the couch to flop down. He wasn't prepared to see Tamahome again, not so soon, if ever. Why he was so hurt and angry, he couldn't figure out. Yes, he felt kind of used, but the depth of the hurt went beyond what that had felt like in the past. How could he prepare himself to see someone who had crawled under his skin in so short a time? Sure, they'd shared intimacies, and played together, and cooked together, talked about important issues, slept beside each other, even fought playfully over blankets, but that didn't explain why it hurt so bad. Flinging an arm over the back of the couch, he waited and tried to come up with something to say to Tamahome.

He ran his eyes over the corporate hair cut and nearly winced. "I'm sorry," he said, getting the first of his feelings out of the way. "I shouldn't have left." He ventured a step closer to the couch. "I thought it was the right thing to do, to stop pushing my old memories on you, but.... I shouldn't have." Another step. "Terry, I'm still in a strange spot, but I think I can understand a few things better."

"Sit down, please. Stop looking at me like I'm going to eat you. Yes, I'm upset, but that wouldn't make me hurt you." He offered a chair on the opposite wall, pointing vaguely as he turned his head to look at the television again. "So you're still not sure. Why come here? You made it pretty clear when you walked out what was going on." He couldn't and wouldn't look at him, it had almost killed him to see that pretty face at the door, but in a close and private setting it was too much.

Tamahome managed an ironic smile. "Just because I'm still in a strange place doesn't mean I'm still not sure." He took a seat where indicated and put down his bag. "I came here to tell you that I'm not going to be leaving like that again." he looked around the place. "What are you doing in Osaka, anyway?"

Terry snorted. "And I should believe you, why? You had said you wanted to get to know me, but then as soon as I showed signs of being even remotely like Tasuki, you ran. That doesn't give you much credit. Explain it to me, tell me why I should believe you and not throw you out." He disregarded the question as to why he was in Osaka; he wanted an answer and damnit he was going to get one before he gave away anything.

"That's not what happened at all!" he defended himself. "I wanted to get to know you, but I thought I was pushing Tasuki's personality on you. I thought you would be uncomfortable with being like him, being reminded you were like him and that's the reason why I left. I didn't want you to think I was only there to pretend you were someone else."

Terry stood and went to the window, hands clenched in the curtains. "I was actin' like ME, aho. Tasuki didn't cross my fuckin' mind until YOU brought him up. I was havin' fun with you, playin' and talkin'. But, after I showed ya that stupid fuckin' tattoo ya walked. I got the damn thing when I was fifteen, I'd never even heard of Tasuki back then! But, ya walked out on me when I was tryin' to tell ya that it wasn't because of HIM that I had it."

Tamahome looked at the floor. "I'm sorry. I can't tell you anything more other than that. I'm sorry and I want to make it up to you." The secret knowledge that Chichiri let him in on made this hard. He knew it WAS because of Tasuki that Terry was the way he was. They shared the soul of a man who liked to play around, fight over stupid things, care about the ones he loved and.... loved him.

"Terry, I want to stay with you." he got up and stood just behind him as he looked out the window. "You said you'd be there to catch me. Well, I'm falling."

Terry bowed his head, eyes closing and a pained expression on his face. "That's not fair." He whispered, hands shaking on the curtains. "You hurt me when ya walked out." He had to clear his throat and swallow a few times to keep the tears in check, he'd be mortified if Tamahome saw him cry.

Tamahome wrapped his arms around him, sensing the wall Terry had put up begin to crumble. "I'm sorry, Terry. I'm not going anywhere now." he whispered into his ear, the fragrant wisps of red hair that tickled his nose before nowhere to be found anymore.

Terry sagged, leaning back against Tamahome. His hands dropped from the curtains and clenched around Tamahome's arms. "Don't hurt me. Don't leave again." He whispered, dropping his head back on Tamahome's shoulder.

"I promise." Tamahome breathed over his neck and gave him a kiss at the base of his ear.

Terry turned in his arms and draped himself over Tamahome's chest, shoulders shaking slightly. Clutching him close and allowing a tear to slip down his cheek. He didn't want to let him go, not again. He refused to let go, not yet, not ever.

Tamahome smiled. He liked holding him. Kissing his head, he thought about it. He wouldn't be able to stop himself from falling for this guy. He was holding his old friend and he'd make it right this time. Maybe fate did exist. If Miaka hadn't broken it off with him, he would never have met the man he needed to awaken.

"Terry." He wanted to say I love you, but... could he? He slipped a hand to Terry's chin and tilted his eyes up to look at them, searching for the right thing to do. "Loving someone shouldn't hurt. I'm sorry I made you hurt." he was speaking to Tasuki at the same time, hoping both heard him. He pulled him closer and pressed their lips together. The fire ignited in him again, the clutching desire to be with him, he let it burn, grateful to feel heat again. The fire was inside him again and it felt wonderful.

Terry felt a shift somewhere in the back of his mind, but pushed the strange feeling away in favor of giving as much back as he got. He buried his fingers in Tamahome's hair, pulling his mouth away. "Then fix it. Make the pain go away." He breathed against warm lips before pressing his tongue past and into his mouth and sealing their lips together again. It still hurt, somewhere in the back of his mind, but the pain wasn't so fierce as it had been. His skin began to burn with the need to touch and be touched, but right now all he wanted was the man in front of him to never stop kissing him.

Tamahome nodded and dove into the kiss a little more, muttering the words, 'whatever you want' in the brief moments he pulled away for air. He couldn't tell him how much he loved him, so he would show him. His lips zinged with electricity as a playful tongue touched them and, once parted, gained entry. Chills ran down his spine to his groin and twitched his desire awake. His hands roamed over Terry's back down over the smooth shirt and back up, feeling the teasing of hot skin peek out and caress his palm. His fingers sought out the heat and wandered under the cool cotton, tugging him forward to be closer to him.

Terry's breath hitched, pressing closer as he was urged. He recalled vaguely telling Tamahome that being with him sober would make him a slave, but obviously having had him drunk did the same. All he wanted, would ever, had ever wanted was this. He sighed into the kiss, hands slipping down to smooth over the dark colored shirt he wore. He wanted this, needed it, and was lost to it.

Bright light illuminated the room and his eyes snapped open, aware that they were in the middle of the living room where anyone might peek in and see them. He slowly tapered off the kiss and leaned back. "Tama, maybe..." He pressed another kiss to swollen lips, nipping and licking the fuller lower lip. "Maybe we should go upstairs?" He tugged free of Tama's grip and grabbed a hand, leading him out of the room and up the stairs.

Tamahome was lead and he followed, tracing the tips of his fingers over Terry's hand as he held him. At the top of the stairs, he twirled him around and ran his hands down the sides of the beautiful man's face. "You know I…It's not just this. You know I want to be with you, cook with you, and talk with you, right? I didn't come all the way out here just to make love to you." he smiled as he said it, "Not that I think that would be that crazy an idea, either."

Terry grinned, a blush coloring his face. "Good, then you can cook breakfast and promise me now ya won't be stealin' all the blankets." He teased, leaning in and giving him a peck on the lips before whirling away and going to his bedroom door.

Hand on the knob, he cast a seductive look over his shoulder. "Are you comin' or are ya thinkin' of bein' kinky and tryin' to christen the stairs?" Laughing to lighten the mood a little bit. "I know ya don't just want sex, ya proved that the other day when all we did was kiss a few times and slept beside each other."

A sly smirk colored Tamahome's features. "I can't promise I won't steal them, I’m not responsible for things I do in my sleep." Good. Terry knew he wasn't only in it for sex. It was, actually, one of the last things on his mind when he had come running out here, but it pushed it's way to the front when he touched Terry. A wonderful shudder ran up through him as an image shot to his head of how they would look in a few moments. Terry's eyes closed, cheeks flushed and moaning, writhing beneath him and begging for more. He broke the image and stored it for later, then followed Terry into the room.

Though he seemed to be calm and sorted about their relationship, he still wasn’t sure on a few things. Now that he’d had a moment away from the mesmerizing embrace, Terry recalled that Tamahome had said that he ‘couldn’t tell him any more’ as though there were a big secret that he was hiding and was afraid to tell him. He’d let it slide tonight; there was time to straighten things out tomorrow. Tonight was for making up and being together, his questions would have to wait.

As soon as Tamahome came through the door, he wrapped his arms around his lover and smirked, a teasing light in his eyes. “I think you owe me a drink, Tama. I recall promisin’ an’ I wanna collect.” He teased as he tugged at the button of Tamahome’s pants. “Gonna let me?”

Tamahome looked down at Terry with a fair bit of confusion until he felt the tug at his waistband. The rather bold and uncharacteristically suggestive remark smacked back into place in his memory. A very dark blush colored his cheeks as the rest of his blood went rushing out of his head. He twitched the corner of his mouth up into a seductive smirk and ran his fingers through Terry's shorn hair. "I did follow through on my end of the bargain." he remarked and clamped his lips over Terry's in a scorching kiss.

Terry purred into the kiss, fingers working to relieve Tamahome of his pants and boxer shorts. He shoved both down Tama's hips as far as he could without breaking the kiss. His brain didn't really work all that well at the moment, but his goal never wavered.

The pants slid to the floor but the boxers were clinging to Tamahome's hips and he whined softly in the back of his throat as he broke the kiss to trail his lips down his neck. The boxers dropped to the floor, finally, and he licked his way up to his ear. "You might need to hold on t'somethin'." he purred, nipping Tamahome's ear and gently pushing him back to the edge of the bed. "I've been told I'm pretty good at this."

Tamahome's belly was tight and humming with anticipation. The jittery fluttering feeling traveled up his chest and down his legs, pooling and aching between his legs. There wasn't much to grab onto here, so he twined his fingers in the covers and leaned back, watching Terry's every move with passion-darkened gray eyes.

Pushing Tamahome's shirt up, he took his time kissing and nibbling his way down the smooth chest, pausing long enough to pay his respects to the pretty, pink nipples that decorated Tama's chest. He nibbled and sucked for a short time, gold never leaving gray.

He made a feast of the skin displayed to him, from neck to hip he dined on sweet skin dampened with desire. When he finally made his way to his treat, he was a little surprised. The tip was almost purple, quivering and already seeping a small amount of pre-cum. Glancing back up, he smirked. "Didn't know that you were so eager, Tama-chan. I might not a bothered t'drag ya upstairs if I knew. Might a played with ya right there in the living room."

Tamahome tried his best to not get lost, to calm himself and take in the erotic sight of Terry -hair cut or not, he was beyond gorgeous- licking and suckling on him, but he slipped. The deep teasing gaze of shining gold, the wet heat of his tongue, his hot mouth as it kissed and nibbled, it was too much. Tamahome's hands clenched and opened in spurts as waves of rising sensation caught him in their swell. "As long as it's you, I'm ok with anywhere." he stuttered out passed twitching lips and soft moans.

Terry's grin turned feral. "Good boy." He swiped his tongue over the sensitive tip, dipping his tongue into the slit to get more of the earthy-sweet flavor that was unique to Tamahome. The taste went straight to his groin and he gently scraped a sharp fang along the underside of the head as he licked and kissed along the shaft to the base nestled in dark, springy hair.

Ever so slowly, he trailed just the pointed tip of his tongue along the thick vein that ran the length. "Ready?" He asked, not giving Tama a chance to reply as he fit his lips over the tip and sucked. Softly.

The licking, the nips, the waves he had felt before this were nothing. His lips parted and a loud groan escaped as Terry lavished his erection with attention. "YE- ahh!" his would be answer turned to a howl of pleasure as Terry's lips surrounded the sensitive head of his cock. He lifted trembling hands to Terry's hair and ran his fingers through the short length, curling his hand behind his head and urging Terry lower. He couldn't help it, it felt too good.

Chuckling around the tip in his mouth, he took pity on Tama and opened his throat enough to allow him further inside. He kept an amused, yet passionate gaze on Tamahome's as he finally started moving. Bobbing along the thick length in his mouth, there was a flash of a hazy dream featuring the man laid out on the bed and himself dressed in strange clothes doing this exact thing. A growl rose in his throat and he closed his eyes.

Opening them again, Tasuki stared out at the world. He never flinched, never deviated from the actions he found himself embroiled in. Why he was awake after he remembered dying was beyond him, but he wasn't about to complain about living a dream.

Lighting couldn't even begin to compare to the shocks of electric heat that zapped up his spine and seemed to fry his brain. His world was centered on the teasing and seductive mouth, the way those lips wrapped around him, and the unbelievably erotic sight of himself dipping and disappearing behind them. He had to work hard not to thrust up into the hot mouth that encompassed him. Tamahome wanted Terry to be in control of it, but it didn't stop his body from trying. The vibrations from the deep growls made his already hard cock twitch and threaten to release, but he bit his lips to keep from overflowing. He didn’t want it to end, he wanted... "More." he moaned out to his lover. "Mm, Terry, gods you feel so good."

Tamahome looked down at him and caught the golden gaze again. It triggered another one of his body's betraying movements, arching up and rolling his hips higher.

Tasuki's brows drew together at the sound of an odd name, but brushed it off. It felt right but not at the same time. Growling again, he gripped Tamahome's hips in strong hands and held him to the bed, angling his mouth further down and experimentally flicking his tongue. He'd done this in several dreams and always knew just the right way to move his lips or roll his tongue but he was too focused on Tamahome demanding more to care if he wasn't doing it exactly right.

He felt a tug and closed his eyes, once more reverting to the actual owner of his body, and Terry took up as though he'd never been gone. Terry had been watching in the background and had taken over when his dumber half had decided that he didn't know what to do.

If it was supposed to feel strange having another man watching him blow his boyfriend while inside his head, he didn't. He knew the face, knew the feeling of the other presence from dreams where they'd talked.

Snapping back to the moment, he narrowed his eyes and decided that they would wait to tell Tamahome. Just to see if it was really Tasuki he wanted or both of them. Fisting the base of Tamahome's erection, he pulled back. "Cum for me, baby. I'm thirsty." He purred, his voice deepening slightly.

He was panting, clawing at the bed, his fingers clenching in Terry's hair, doing everything he could to not do what Terry opened his mouth to say. The words caught him and he lost control. "AAhhhh, Terr- nnn hnn." Pleading whines came from the back of his throat as his arm curled around Terry's head and his hips thrust up into the amazing mouth.

"Go~ds yes, comin- Ahh, Te-hhsuki…" He wasn't aware of anything but the orgasm racing to release, and the gorgeous redhead making it happen. His hips bucked wildly and a small bead of saliva trickled from the corner of his moaning mouth. "Terry, Terry I'm coming.... Mmm, I love you." His hips thrust up one last time, and his eyes shot open, back arched and hands embracing Terry's head as his seed spilled down his throat, the mingled name of both lovers calling out his release.

Terry sucked and swallowed, gratified to hear his name and Tasuki's stapled together mid coitus. The declaration of love pulled tears from his eyes, one for each of them. He slowly released Tamahome from his mouth, tongue flicking out to gather up the drops that had spilled out over his lips. He got to his feet and crawled up on the bed beside his lover, holding him tight. "I love ya, too, Tama-chan." He answered, his voice thick with emotion. He didn't see a reason to remain separate from Tasuki now. Tamahome loved them both equally. He tightened his grip and allowed Tasuki's memories to merge with his own, welcoming in the rush of visions and emotions that had remained bottled up and separate. He cried quietly against Tamahome's shoulder, "I've been waitin' years t'hear ya say that, Tama. Through two lives."

Tamahome was dazed and happy as the last of him was licked away. He reached up and petted the short hair of his lover with languid and drained strokes, smiling as his confession was echoed back to him and stealing a kiss as Terry cuddled up next to him. As Terry finished saying the last three words, he blinked at him in sudden confusion and awe. "Terry? Tasuki?"

Tasuki smiled, rubbed away the tears and shrugged. "Surprise?" He scratched the back of his head and sat back. "Either name works. You did a helluva job makin' both come out together." He blushed and fidgeted nervously, unsure if Tama would be upset and leave again or if he'd be okay with knowing that both of them were in there.

Tamahome raised his eyebrow, only now realizing he had indeed called out both names in the final moments. He smiled warmly and chuckled a bit.
"Tesuki's a pretty strange name..." He gathered the fidgeting redhead in his arms and kissed the sweet lips, his own lingering taste on them. "Tarry's still not great either...Tetsuki... or Taruki. " He giggled at the silly combinations he was coming up with then gave a shrug. "How about I just call you ‘my love’ and call it even? Hmm?"

Tasuki laughed and pulled Tamahome further up on the bed, snuggling into his side. "That's the best name yet, Tama-chan." He leaned up and kissed him again, taking a deeper taste than Tama had given him.

He broke the kiss and lay his head down, listening to the thump of Tamahome's heart. "I'm glad that ya came back, I kept havin' flashes of things and I knew what they were, but I didn't wanna believe that I was really th' Tasuki you was lookin' for. It was really fuckin' confusin'."

"I knew it from the moment I saw you, even if I was drunk beyond repair at the time." he joked, then got more serious. "I found out from Chichiri for certain though."

Tasuki grinned, "Yeah, I figured ya did. She was fuckin' cryptic to ya, wasn't she? I bet all yer okane that she did that mysterious monk bit on ya." He shifted and tugged the jeans down a little bit, trying to keep from drawing attention to the fact that he was fully dressed and wanting while Tama was in an open shirt and socks. They probably looked pretty funny lying curled up together. "So, when did ya decide ya loved me? Terry me, not Tasuki... damnit, that's confusing."

"While we were cooking together, and yes she did. I called her out on it, too." He grinned. "It sounds nice, doesn't it? I love you." Tamahome stared up at the ceiling and contemplated the whole crazy situation. "Why didn't you ever even tell me?" he asked, pulling off the rest of his clothes and crawling under the covers. "Maybe you can get Chichiri to go back in time and hit me over the head with the future, convince me to not fall for it..."

Tasuki sat up and tugged his shirt off over his head, tossing it on the floor. "It does an' I wanna hear it from ya often. I never said because, well, because I didn't wanna get in the way of you and Mi-chan. You both seemed so happy together that I didn't wanna ruin it." He scooted off of the bed to take off his pants, but changed his mind at the last second. "Uh, I'll be right back. Don't fall asleep on me." He grinned over his shoulder and went to the bathroom to relieve the pressure building up in his jeans.

After the terrible night in the rain, finding out his best friend was dead, finding out within the same day that he was alive and in his boyfriend, and the very thorough job Tasuki/Terry had done to make him go crazy… Tamahome didn't keep to the promising nod he gave Tasuki as he left the room. Sleep fell over him as soon as there wasn't another person to keep him up. By the time he came back, Tamahome was fast asleep and smiling.

As embarrassed as he was to have had to ease his erection in a less than pounding-Tamahome-into-the-mattress kind of way, he still smirked and shook his head to find said un-fucked man sleeping. He slipped the boxers back on Tamahome and shed his own pants, crawling back up on the bed to spoon behind his partner.

Pulling the blankets up around them- and making sure to tuck one corner under the mattress to keep from waking up shivering- he buried his nose against Tamahome's neck and followed him into dreams.

The dreams that pulled him in were usual for Tasuki, starring his favorite person in all manner of lecherous poses. Currently, said star was grinding his ass back into Tasuki's hips and causing more than a little bit of a reaction. He gripped those slim hips and pulled them tight to him, pressing and rubbing against the firm ass that had been tormenting him. Unaware that his actions in the dream were playing out on a very real version of his dream lover, Tasuki happily continued to stroke, pinch, rub, grind against, and lick his lover.

A soft smile crept to Tamahome's lips as some of the touching came through to his own dreamscape. A mewling escaped his lips as the touching solidified and became more and more real to his senses. "Mmmm nsuk.." his still fast asleep lips tried to form the syllables to his lover's name.

Tasuki's dreaming progressed to more than fondling over his lover's clothes, he secreted his hand down into the shorts his lover wore and teased the tip of his cock. Though not yet erect, he continued to play while kissing and sucking the beautiful neck so close to his lips.

The fingers feathering over him made his moans grow louder as he grew harder. His hips ground back into a firm erection and his dream world started to fade.

Deft fingers played with perking nipples, tugging on them in a way to mimic suction. The firm ass he had been grinding into pushed back against him and a moan woke him from his erotic fantasy. Surprised and ashamed for molesting Tamahome while he slept, Tasuki attempted to ease his hands away without waking the object of his lustful dreams. He needed a cold shower or a good fifteen minutes alone to get his wayward body back under his control.

"Tasuki..." The name came out with a little whine when warm hands left his skin, but with the teasing gone, sleep won over again. Tamahome settled back down into the pillow and his breathing steadied.

Tasuki froze, waiting for Tamahome to go back to sleep before he moved again. Damn, but that whine of his name made it ten times harder to control himself. "Shh, baby, I'll be right back." He cooed gently, finally getting his hands off of his sleeping lover.

Getting the rest of him off of Tamahome would be a challenge. He inched backward, trying to go slowly so he didn't wake him again. He didn't want to leave the heat and comfort of his lover's side, but his body was asking for things that he couldn't have at the moment.

Tasuki’s movement easily interrupted the light sleep he fell into. Tamahome stirred, lazily lifting a hand over behind his shoulder and stroking Tasuki's hair a bit clumsily. "Mmmm, don-go yet love…" He shifted and writhed to get a better position more fully against Tasuki's belly.

Tasuki clenched his jaw, his face a mask of wavering control. "Tama, please." He begged, shifting his hips away from his lover to keep from feeling like more of a pervert than he already did. "I'm just gonna go take a shower. I'll be right back." Gods, how the hell was he supposed to get out of this?

Tamahome's lip stuck out in a pout though his eyes remained stubbornly closed. "But you feel good, Tasuki…"

He told himself not to look, knew that the pout was there and that he'd never be able to say no to it, but he opened his eyes anyway. He knew that Tamahome was adorable when he pouted, but to be hit with that pout, coupled with the erection pressed to his belly, the matching on in his pants, and the fact that he very much didn't want to leave the bed served to make him falter. He leaned in and pulled that pouting lower lip into his mouth, sucking on it gently as he grabbed Tamahome's hips and pressed him hard against the erection tenting the front of his boxers. "This is why ya need t'let me go shower, Tama."

Tamahome's lips parted and a hungry moan escaped. "Nnn… not lettin' you go now."

Tasuki growled and moved his hands away from Tamahome’s hip to grip his face. “Look at me, Tama. Right goddamned now.” When those sleepy eyes opened, he pleaded again. “Either ya let me go or I’m gonna make love to you.” he warned.

Tamahome smiled sleepily and wound his arms around Tasuki’s neck. “That’s not a good argument, Tasuki.” he replied, pushing his erection against Tasuki’s belly with a soft moan.

Tasuki growled and rolled on top of Tamahome, putting his knee between Tamahome’s legs and nudging them apart until he could lie comfortably, but Tamahome quickly reversed their positions. “Hey, you already got a turn.” Tasuki pouted, raising his head to capture Tama’s in a kiss.

Tamahome smirked into the kiss, arranging Tasuki’s legs so that they wrapped around his hips. Pulling back a moment, he licked Tasuki’s lower lip. “But, that was so long ago.” he muttered, sealing their lips together in a demanding kiss.

Tasuki moaned into the kiss, hips arching against his will. A shudder ran through him and his arms curled around Tamahome’s neck, pulling him closer. “Tama…” He sighed, bumping his hips up again.

Tamahome rocked against Tasuki’s erection, the need that had blazed in him earlier returning to life and growing steadily hotter. One hand moved from Tasuki’s knee to the inside of his thigh, trailing up soft skin and inside the boxer shorts Tasuki wore. Long, slim fingers found and circled Tasuki’s cock, slowly stroking the thick length. “Do you want me, Tasuki?” He asked, a seductive smirk on his lips as his index finger fluttered over the tip of his erection.

Tasuki whimpered, hips jerking upward to increase the teasing motions of Tamahome’s hand. “Mm, please, Tama.” He smoothed his hands down Tamahome’s back until he reached a firm ass, slipping his hands under the cotton boxers he squeezed and pulled Tamahome’s hips closer.

Tamahome growled, leaning back and letting go of Tasuki. “You’ve got too many clothes on.” He gripped the cotton shorts and tugged them off of Tasuki’s slim hips, tossing them over his shoulder to land somewhere out of sight. “Roll over.” He grinned, flicking Tasuki’s erection lightly.

Tasuki quirked a brow but it ended up as a wince of pleasure, a soft sound slipping passed his lips at the gentle flick. He dutifully rolled over and looked over his shoulder at Tamahome, “You gettin’ kinky on me?”

Tamahome smirked and bit Tasuki’s hip playfully. “Hush, you’ll like this.” He gripped Tasuki’s hips and raised him to his knees, then spread him wide and licked once over the puckered entrance.

Tasuki’s eyes went wide and a squeak escaped him, “Tama! Not there! Not with your mouth!” He moved a hand to cover himself, embarrassment darkening his face. “Like this, aho.” he pressed a finger into himself, watching Tamahome’s face as he pressed in and pulled out. He closed his eyes; cheeks pink with embarrassment as Tamahome watched him. No one had ever watched him like that. He usually did it so that no one could see.

Tamahome licked two fingers and added them along side Tasuki’s, his erection growing heavier as he watched the fingers pressing deep.

Tasuki’s back bowed in surprise and pleasure, a strangled moan falling from his lips as he raised his hips higher, trying to pull them deeper. “Tama, please, now, please!”

Tamahome pulled Tasuki’s hand away, adding two more fingers to replace the one that had been removed. He pushed as deep as he could, reveling in Tasuki’s sobbing cries.

Tasuki desperately searched for Tamahome’s boxer shorts, needing inside them to tease Tamahome until he gave him what he wanted, but Tamahome was situated too far back to reach. “Please! Tamahome, inside me.” He panted, hips rolling into the thrusting fingers within him. “Now, please, I need you.”

“I don’t have lubricant, Tasuki, if I put it in now it’ll hurt.” Tamahome growled out, pressing hard against the soft bundle of nerves he’d just found.

“Aah! Tama!” Tasuki’s vision went white and he buried his face in the pillow, biting down hard on the edge of the pillow. “I’ll do it.” He growled out, forcing shaking arms to hold him up. “Take out your fingers.”

Tamahome did as asked, a curious frown creasing his brows as he watched Tasuki turn and face him. The sound of tearing cloth and the sight of blue and green checkered boxer shorts flying through the air was the only warning he got before Tasuki’s heavenly mouth found his cock once more.

Tasuki suckled Tamahome to the back of his throat, thick saliva coating Tamahome’s erection as he pulled back. Shaking and needy, Tasuki sat up and pulled Tamahome to lay down over top of him. “Inside me, now, damnit.”

Tamahome growled, positioning himself and then thrusting in all at once. Tasuki’s cry of pleasure was music to his ears, the tight heat surrounding him heaven, and the angel beneath him more than he could have ever asked for. He hooked Tasuki’s knees over his shoulders, bending him nearly in half as he thrust mercilessly into his lover.

Tasuki screamed and writhed, arms wrapped around Tamahome’s neck to keep him close. “Ha- harder! More!” His fingers clenched in Tamahome’s hair, his head thrown back in ecstasy as a moan tore from his lips.

The tight heat that surrounded him was mesmerizing. Tamahome thrust in, moving at his body's demands. Short hitched moans escaped his lips that were only silenced by the wet heat of Tasuki's mouth.

Wrapping one arm around the man's hips, Tamahome gripped the edge of the bed with the other, pulling himself deeper, bracing his body against the crippling streams of lighting that flooded through him. "Hnn- Tasuki, ahh, gods you feel so good."

Tasuki gasped; his back arching. He clawed at Tamahome's back, pulling him deeper, tighter to him. "T-Tama-ho-m-me!" He panted out, lips searching blindly for their mate.

Hard, filling heat pushed deeper inside him, striking and rubbing his prostate with each slow, sensual thrust. "Tamahome, mmm-aah! M-more, gods!" He nipped along the strong jaw, trailing his lips up further to a beautiful mouth. He suckled and lapped at those lips, grazing them with his fangs. His body curled into Tamahome's, heels pressing against a firm backside as he pushed harder. Finally giving up on Tamahome’s lips, he trailed his teeth down the heated skin to his shoulder, his fangs scraping the sensitive flesh.

Tamahome worked harder as he was commanded, every word filling him with a need to obey. Tasuki's body pulled him in and weaned the control out of him bit by bit. Groans and moans tore from his throat as his thrusts deepened and quickened. His fingers hurt from gripping the bed, but the rush of pleasure spread to every inch of his body. He slid his hand up from Tasuki's waist to take hold of the weeping erection that was pressing against his belly. So hot, so hard. His fingers gripped the shaft tightly and stroked in counter to his hip's thrusts, his forefinger caressing the slick tip with feather light touches.

Tasuki quivered, his body tightening as hot fingers encircled his arousal. The trembling in the arm over his head not escaping his notice, as he gently pushed Tamahome backward to lie against the bed. Feral golden eyes peered down at Tamahome's face as he crawled over top of him, straddling his hips and slipping the hot arousal back into his body. "Work smarter, not harder, Tama." He growled rocking his hips back and easily building their pace back up to the hard, pounding thrusts of before. His hands trailed over Tamahome's chest, plucking at rosy nipples before trailing down to circle his fingers around his own arousal. His head tossed back on a deep moan, Tasuki growled out Tama's name.

Tamahome grinned up at the beautiful man riding him then gripped slim hips and pulled him away. Pushing Tasuki back just when their passions were just beginning to reach the peak pulled a growl from him, but what he had in mind would be much better.

He sat up and pulled Tasuki down to the floor, forcing him down to his knees over the end of the bed. Tama’s smirk darkened as he reared up over his partner’s back, lying against smooth skin to kiss and bite along that pretty neck as he pressed inside again. “Beautiful as you are on top, I want you under me, Tasuki.” he growled into the redhead’s ear as he pushed upward and gripped lovely hips.

Tasuki barely had a moment to gasp in a breath as Tamahome thrust hard, brushing against his prostate. “H-harder.” Tasuki gasped out, tipping his hips backward to insure deeper penetration. “Gods, Ta-ma-ho-me!” Fingers digging hard into the edge of the bed, he whimpered and moaned for his partner, demanding and begging for more with each thrust.

Tama narrowed his eyes, one hand sliding up from Tasuki’s hip to curl in that beautiful hair, tugging it as a moan slipped from his lips. The boy was so tight, hot, and wonderfully responsive that he had to close his eyes to keep himself in check. He wanted this to last.

Tasuki whimpered, the painfully hard arousal that hung heavily between his legs throbbing with each wave of pleasure, but he wasn’t able to finish. He uncurled one hand from the edge of the couch and reached between his legs to relieve the ache that Tama’s deep, hard thrusts had built up in him. A hard tug at his hair gave him pause, and the growled command to stop caused another whine to slip from his lips. “P-please! I n-need to – to cum!”

Tamahome stopped then tugged Tasuki’s arms behind him. “Not yet.” he growled. Using Tasuki’s arms as leverage, he began again. Deep and hard, fast and furious Tama thrust, needing to be deeper inside, demanding that Tasuki take all of him and more.

Tasuki’s cries became louder, more fevered then before. His cock ached with the need to be touched, and he feared that if he didn’t cum soon he might explode. It felt too good to live through, and though he was achingly hard, he couldn’t help but beg for more. His eyes clenched shut against the mind-blowing pleasure, incoherent moans and cries ripping from his lips.

Tama changed the angle and Tasuki’s eyes snapped open wide as orgasm washed over him all at once. “TAMA!” He screamed as his seed splattered against the side of the bed and on his thigh.

Tasuki became impossibly tighter, throbbing around his arousal and clenching hard enough to drag his orgasm from him unexpectedly. His body curved around Tasuki’s, his thrusts slowing as he gathered Tasuki to his chest and sucked on his shoulder to keep his cry of pleasure from distorting the erotic sound of his name screamed from beautiful lips.

As the last waves of ecstasy washed out of them, Tama slowly lowered Tasuki’s arms to the floor and immediately gripped his partner’s chin, pulling him around for a deep kiss. If it was possible, Tasuki tasted even better. Perhaps that was due to the fact that he’d heard the musical sound of his name torn from them just moments earlier. He gentled the kiss, then withdrew so that he could see the flush that colored Tasuki’s face. “I love you. Tasuki.” He panted, his gentle nature returning now that the clawing hunger was sated.

Tasuki sighed and rested against Tama’s chest, comforted by the feeling of Tamahome’s rapid heartbeat. “I love ya, too, Tama-chan.” He muttered as Tama slipped from him. “I really need sleep now. Ya fuckin’ wore my ass out.”

Tama crawled up and flopped to the bed, pulling Tasuki to lay on his chest. “Mmhmm.” he murmured as his eyes slipped shut.

Tasuki yawned and cuddled tighter to Tama’s side. This was the beginning of the rest of their lives, and Tasuki couldn’t be happier.