Transaction

Disclaimer: Blah blah blah crap blah.

Author’s Notes: Ooookay. So, an up note, Kel gave me a reply or two on the high school one with Tohma and Taki. Hopefully we'll see a bit more progress on things. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. You should too!

In other news, my job might be sending me over to Six Flags in New England, Mass! They need some help for their opening week, so a bunch of us are getting shipped over there for a bit from Jersey. We'll be doing Characters, still, but it'll be interesting to work in another park, seeing how differently it works in the department. This'll be my third Six Flags. I'm so excited!

So, if anyone's going to be there around the 15th during that week, look for the chick who's about 5'1", brown hair pulled in a ponytail with glasses. It's me! The real name is Danielle, so the nametag should be a huge tip off! So, if you're there, come say hi to me and my group from Jersey, and if you feel like partying with us when we're off work (this trip is a complete excuse to get drunk) we'll see what happens!

Also, my birthday is on the 19th! I'll be 19! I don't know what I'm doing for it yet, but when I've got plans, I'll let you know about updates and whatnot.

Enjoy!
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Transaction

Chapter Sixty-Seven
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"Taki," Tohma drawled, lazily. They were both being driven to Tohma's mansion for the night. The blond was sitting up and Taki was laid out on the seat, his head resting in Tohma's lap.

The blond didn't want to incorporate work after hours, but after the day they went through, Tohma figured that maybe a little talking about it wouldn't hurt.

"How did things go with Kenji today?" he asked, smiling down at Taki as he tangled his thin fingers through the ex singer's dark hair.

Taki made a soft hum of questioning, tilting his head back enough to see Tohma's face. It was easier, because Tohma was looking down at him, and the smile on his face wasn't soft or sweet. He didn't have those things in him.

"It went fine. I think he's getting the point." Kenji left angry, and that was expected. Taki didn't want him to go home and think things over and decide that he had to do it.

He wanted Kenji to do it whether he realized he was or not. He didn't want anyone to encourage him or try to help him, he wanted it to happen. Things like this were best done when the person was unaware of them.

He hoped Taki was right. They didn't have that much time for Kenji to throw another hissy fit. They needed them to all understand their positions and perform them willingly. Once they understood that, they could focus on the choreography for the show and they could plan the dancers in the background.

So many things to get done, and so many of them couldn't be done until the band cooperated.

"I hope he does understand," Tohma sighed as the driver made a turn. "Haido's nervous, but he's going to do his best, I know that much."

At least he knew the kid really enjoyed playing. He wasn't going to be doing much else during the concert. Kenji would be doing most of the performing, Keiko would have a little bit, mostly they could play off each other. Haido would get even less attention than that.

"I think they can do it. If Kenji shapes up, they can do it."

"You sound worried about it," Taki peered up at Tohma through the tips of his hair, eyes a little narrowed. Was he a bit defensive? Yeah, sure he was. Tohma wouldn't have this band to worry about if not for him. "They'll be fine."

ASK had been like this in the beginning. Ma had been so over confident, so showy, and Taki and found early on that it was easiest to step back and let Ma take over. But, Tohma hadn't let him get away with it.

Granted, Tohma's methods were easier to deal with then what he was doing to Kenji. And, he and Ma had an almost purely sexual relationship for most of their lives, something that Keiko and Kenji didn't have. So, they lost that angle.

But, Taki was confident, a result of what had been done to ASK in those early days to get them into shape. This would work. Opium would be able to perform and they'd do it damn well.

The consequences if they didn't weren't to be spoken of.

Tohma just smiled and lifted his head, looking out a window. The gates to the mansion had just opened up and now it was the fairly short drive to the front of the house. He didn't think it was worry. He was telling himself it wasn't worry.

There was just much to plan and he wanted to get it done.

"We have to plan the dance performance of the show," Tohma said. "I wouldn't want to force Kenji on Keiko or Haido in front of a crowd. Enough back up dancers... and if you think about all the songs, they seem to... tell a story. I think we can have an amazing show along with the music if Kenji can keep up."

Now he was already back at the office making calls and plans for this. Distractions.

"Hey," Taki sat up, frowning now. "No more work. I'm off the clock and I don't want to talk about it." Because this was ALL about him. Yeah, right. "We can plan dances and talk about stories later. Quit being productive."

He'd distract Tohma from this all night if he had to. But, he was done talking about Opium, but there was a little part of him that wondered if he and Tohma stopped talking about work, would they have anything left to talk about? So far, all they were was fights, sex, and productivity.

That wasn't a lot to base a conversation on.

He wanted to say something like, 'Hey, kiss me and let's pretend we didn't have this conversation,' but kisses implied a relationship that he and Tohma didn't have. The only relationship he was sure they had was a work one.

But, but! You didn't bring a work associate home to your mansion in a limo. Especially not after you'd already had sex with them. A few times.

The blond looked over at Taki as he sat up, putting on another smile for the man. No more work. He made an X over his heart with a finger. Cross his heart; no more work.

The limo pulled up to the doorsteps, and the driver got out and came around opening up the door. Tohma got out, slipping his gloves back on. He'd taken them off while running his hands through Taki's hair.

When Taki was at his side, Tohma started up the stairs, pausing for a moment for turning his head just slightly, almost looking back at the other man.

"Mika's out of town for the week," he informed Taki. The ex singer could take that statement however he wanted.

Taki had wondered about that. Bringing home your lover to meet your wife was a little risky, even for Tohma. But, even Seguchi Tohma's housewife had to take a vacation sometimes, right?

He was sort of happy she did.

All he did was nod, though, because he wasn't sure what that meant for the evening. Or the week. "Do you want me to stay tonight?" Because, hey, man, this WAS Tohma's house.

Mansion. Thing. It was way too big to be just a house.

"I'd like that," he replied simply as he opening one of the large doors, nodding at the man who silently accepted to take his hat.

The house was large, decorated ornately like one would imagine, but Tohma had no interest in those things. Mika had done it all. Not out of greed, but because she understood how his parents had been. Money was all that mattered, and how you showed it off showed what kind of person you were.

He heard the door shut and turned to face Taki. "Are you hungry, or would you rather rest for a bit?"

Tohma was trying to keep Taki's legs in mind, not knowing what he had done with Kenji all day.

"I'm okay," And Taki was surprised by how true that really was. He was okay. Things were evening out, and now that he could walk normally again (no thanks to Tohma), and things were finally on track with Opium (so much for that no more work thing), he had the chance to relax.

He wasn't used to it, though. It felt strange, to be able to go home and not worry about going into work the next day and had to concentrate on avoiding Tohma, or getting this shoot scheduled... Their new set up seemed strangely habitual.

But, he'd done this before. It was nothing new to him.

It was easier to be around Tohma now, too. Taki still wasn't overly affectionate, and he didn't expect Tohma to be. They weren't fighting nearly as much, and Taki could almost go so far as to call them close. Certainly friends by now.

Just stepping into this house reminded him that Tohma was married, though. This was Tohma's home, where he lived with his wife. Taki didn't really have any place here.

"You should show me around a little." Most of his day, both morning and afternoon, had been spent seated. He'd done a bit of walking around, passing out papers where they were needed, because he hadn't felt like calling out a messenger. As far as activities went, his day had been relaxed.

Tohma chuckled at Taki's idea. Show him around? Oh, he was only programmed to talk about all the different pieces in each room. The way a guide in a museum would talk about all the different collections of art in a gallery.

There was only his music room slash small recording area (incase he ever came up with music) his private office, and a guest bedroom that he used frequently after working long nights or staying out late.

"Well, at least by the time we finish with the entire house, we should be hungry," Tohma said with a smile. "Might as well start downstairs first then."
~~~
Author's Notes: So, anyways. This was a cute chapter, I think. We get to see a little bit of cute interaction between Tohma and Taki. A lull, if you will. The next chapter will be good! YAY! I promise! Not that this one wasn't, but it's got a bit more action to it. Y'know?

I love this story!

Drop us a line!

~Subby