Transaction

Disclaimer: Wooo!

Author’s Notes: The good news is, I can totally rock Guitar Hero on meduim play. The bad news is, it's snow/hailing out here in Jersey, so I can't really do anything today. And I would kill to have GH back on a day like today. It's nasty.

Jo-Jo and Anon thank you both for asking and bringing up such thoughtful points in your reviews. It's most definately appreciated. To answer some of your questions, Jo-Jo, I may need a little info from Kel. She's the one who plays Taki, not I. And as far as Hadio goes, I'm sorry to say that this is about as much information as we get on him. I've mentioned in past A/Ns that I didn't get much on him. It's true. With Keiko and Kenji, things came very naturally about them. Haido was locked up. I'm still taking a stab in the dark and saying he had a very bad long term relationship, but I don't know for sure. It seems he lives alone, his father left when he was young (mentioned briefly in one chapter) and I'm assuming his mother may not be around anymore. That's just what I get from it, but there's nothing clear.

I know this is a problem, but if you remember the chapter where we did get a little insight on him, it was crammed and forced and... honestly, I really hated how it came out. Apparently, he didn't want it to be known, and forcing doesn't help anything. I think the one reason we didn't mind leaving him how he was, was because the entire band of Opium wasn't supposed to be a large part of this story. Keep in mind this was supposed to be a one shot between Tohma and Taki. Things got complicated and fun.

As far as Taki goes, I'm going to have to take a stab in the dark based on things Kel's mentioned and said about Taki previous. He's impulsive, self centered (to a point), dramatic, loud... a lot of things that aren't exactly honorable. I personally don't get the feel that he regrets his actions from back then. It's like Tohma. They did what they had to, what they thought was right. Taki hasn't changed all that much from back then. He still has his hissy fit days. He seems to have grown up quite a lot, and maybe it's to fend off any guilt, but he doesn't seem to think on it much.

I'll be sure to get Kel's take as soon as I can.

Until then, enjoy the next chapter!
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Transaction
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Chapter Fifty-Three
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Taki's shirt was ripped, barely held together by maybe one button, or two. They'd made an attempt at covering it up, but it wasn't much of one, and Kenji was suddenly struck by how small Tohma looked without his jacket. Taki's movements as they stopped walking to face the band members were slow and awkward, like it hurt to move his legs too far apart.

Kenji knew how that felt. It made his skin heat to think about why, too.

Tohma readjusted his arm around Taki's waist to make sure the other man didn't have to put too much weight on his own legs. He was sure that Taki would need to rest in the blond's office for a while. But they had dressed slowly in the elevator, Tohma helping Taki more than the other man would probably have liked to admit, and finished the lift up.

They had exited the lift when Tohma heard footsteps almost running up the stairs. He halted their progress, turning around slowly to watch as Haido burst onto the floor breathing audible, Kenji dragged right behind.

Tohma smiled pleasantly, pretending as though nothing was out of the ordinary. Taki's shirt? A minor wardrobe malfunction. His legs? Ah, wouldn't you know it? They had given out again. Tohma's jacket? He went without this morning.

"Good morning! I must say, I almost can't believe what I'm seeing," the blond said, laughing lightly. "Ah, but there's that hair again, so it must be true. Sonoda-san, I take it your arrival back in this building signifies something?"

Tohma didn't want to be ignoring Taki, but unfortunately it had to be done. He didn't know how Taki wished to handle this in front of the band, but he had to be business at the moment.

Taki forced himself to stand up straight, even though it hurt to put the pressure on his legs. He was still noticeably leaning against Tohma, but he wasn't slouching anymore, and it was all too clear in his facial expression that he was trying to make himself carry his own wait, and he was not at all happy with Haido and Kenji's timing.

What didn't show on his face was how relieved he was to see them back.

Kenji was nodding, trying hard to ignore the look on Taki's face because it was making him uncomfortable. He had to resist the urge to reach over and grab Haido's hand, because he didn't know how Haido felt about doing that in front of people they knew.

Though, he had a feeling they wouldn't be at all surprised. His skin felt itchy as he remembered looking over Haido's shoulder from the floor to see Taki and Tohma standing in the doorway to their formerly private studio.

That had been absolutely horrible.

"I didn't quit the band..." Kenji couldn't quite get himself to look up at Tohma, because he was sure everything he was thinking was right there in his face. "I just took a break." An extended break.

Tohma let Taki shift as he pleased, not dropping his arm from around his waist. He couldn't help but smile at the two young men before him. Haido shook his head at Kenji's words, cradling his head in one hand. Kenji looked extremely uncomfortable.

"I see," Tohma said with a smile. "Can I assume your break is now over and we can expect you back to work?"

"Absolutely, Seguchi-san," Haido said, jumping in before Kenji could say anything else. "We'll all be back to work and ready to make up for anything we've missed. Right?"

He looked over at Kenji, nudging him slightly with his arm. Waiting for him to agree.

Kenji shot Haido a look that said he could speak for himself, thank you very much. But, he nodded, only managing to glance at Tohma and Taki before he was looking away again. "Right."

Taki was standing on his own, and didn't seem at all bothered by Tohma's arm around his waist. And, really, he wasn't. He liked the way it felt, and though he would never admit it, he was glad that the support was there if he needed it. He had a feeling he was going to need it fairly soon.

"And you'll let Keiko know." He added, voice rough with misuse. He would have glared at Tohma, but it was hardly Tohma's fault that he couldn't control his volume.

Kenji nodded, not even daring to look up at Taki. He could almost feel the heat throb in his cheeks.

Haido nodded, silently agreeing. He'd been more worried about his job to notice his bosses, but when Taki spoke, his eyes widened just slightly and he took in their current states.

Oh... OOOOH... that's why the elevator hadn't been working. Oh jeeze. Bad timing. Really bad timing.

Tohma couldn't help but chuckle silently at their faces. Haido seemed to have joined the rest of the class and was all caught up. They were so very awkward, but their effort was admirable.

"Well, then, Taki?" he asked, looking over at the other man. "When should we have them all return to work?"

It was just a small incline, a tilt of his head so he could see Tohma without craning his neck. Taki still hated their height difference, and he was sure Tohma knew it. It was something that was going to take him a long time to get over.

"Tomorrow." After all, they'd missed six days of work. They needed to start again as soon as possible.

Nearly a whole week off... Taki was going to work them like hell.

Kenji almost protested. He was opening his mouth to do it when he realized what could really happen. Clamping his mouth shut, he nodded again. It was easier to agree then to argue it out, especially when he couldn't get himself to look at them.

"Of course," Tohma agreed. "A man who knows his job. But if you can barely walk tomorrow, stay in and I'll work them in your place."

Taki knew he was fully capable of such a threat. And he would make sure they would be spending the night together, so he could make sure Taki either stayed home, or came to work safely. He looked back at the band members again, still smiling.

"Well then, it seems Opium's first concert will still be on schedule."

Haido was about to give a large grin when Tohma continued speaking.

"If, they can manage to put out the CD which was supposed to be finished by... oh, well, today, if they can finish it by... next Wednesday," Tohma said, looking at Taki for confirmation that this was fine.

After all, he was the manager, and their contracted stated that he could argue any request. Tohma could override it, but if Taki didn't think they could do it, seriously couldn't do it, Tohma would allow them the time they would need.

"Are you serious?" Haido asked, feeling completely horrified.

Taki's grin was hard, but almost gleeful. He loved the indignation, and the way Kenji's eyes had widened. It took everything he had not to laugh.

"Absolutely."

It was perfect justice to watch Kenji struggle with himself, and Taki could almost SEE the thought process. Kenji knew it was his fault they were behind schedule, and he knew they would have to pull double hours to finish the CD by Wednesday.

And Taki knew that Kenji didn't think putting the CD back was worth putting back the concert, which led to reluctant agreement.

The smile on his face when he looked at Haido was forced, strained and trying hard to be confident. "We can do it! That's five days. We'll just have to come in over the weekend."

Keiko was going to kill him.

"I can see why Keiko beats you now," Haido sighed. "I think she's trying to knock the sense in, not out."

"You know," Tohma said quietly to Taki. "Right then... Sonoda reminded me a little of Shindou. I think they'll do it, Taki."

"Alright... so then, what should we do now?" Haido asked. "Spend the rest of our last day off doing nothing... or working?"

Of course, working would be the smartest choice, but Tohma had to stop that right off the bat. Neither Taki or himself was in any shape to work with such a group at the time being.

"I'm sorry, but we haven't scheduled any studio time yet, so today won't work. I suggest breaking the news to the third member... and beg to be able to walk away."

They would do it, whether it was by their own volition or Taki's. It didn't matter whose, because the CD was going to get recorded and on the shelves by Thursday. Wednesday was their day of grace, the breath of relief as they watched the tracks go off to be layered onto CD after CD over night.

And by Friday, Taki fully expected his desk to be swamped with paperwork. He wasn't entirely sure he was looking forward to it.

In fact, his job had just become a whole lot harder.

Kenji groaned, looking as if he wanted to bury his face in Haido's neck. It was obvious by the way his face scrunched, and he'd even begun to turn toward the smaller man. But, he held himself in check. With all the seriousness he could gather in his lanky frame, he turned to Haido.

"I really hope you can lift more then you weigh, because she's going to kill me." Cut him up in little pieces, light him on fire, and laugh as she stashed him in the walls.

Haido sighed, looking physically tired now, but smiled up at Kenji. He was cute when he was scared out of his mind. Aw, how could he resist? It sucked that he was shorter than Kenji. He put his arms around the other man's waist hugging him.

"How about something to eat first, and then we'll go talk to her," Haido suggested. "We'll bring her something for a bribe."

It was better than nothing.

"Wonderful, wonderful," Tohma said pleasantly. "We'll see you tomorrow."

With that, he eased more of Taki's weight onto himself and helped the other man walk to his office, fully prepared to lay him out on the overstuffed couch there and spoil him a little for the rest of the day.
~~~
Author's Notes: When I look back on this chapter, it seems like nothing more than a bit of gone on too long comedy. Just making Kenji and Haido uncomfortable was fun, though. But if you noticed anything, we now have an official deadline for Opium's CD. With that in mind, contracts, drama and obligations... let's see what will happen.

Drop us a line!

~Subby