The Light of my Life

After everything had settled Tamotsu and Liu would both be seated on the living area couch with Illyana across from them on a loveseat. Tamotsu was scooted as far to the left of the couch as he could and Liu settled farthest to the right. The manager had a despondent expression occupying his usually neutral features. He rested his chin in his hand, while his elbow sat perched on the arm of the seat. In Liu's case he had his arms crossed over his chest, the man now wearing a more comfortable looking set of Chinese robes. He had his left knee crossed over his right, bouncing the limb as he stared off.

"I cannot believe you lost it like that. You promised you would do better." Liu complained.

Tamotsu would scoff. "It isn't my fault she saw -- it. And you were fooling around while I had a knife. What if someone got hurt?!" Namely Illyana.

The woman looked between the two men. She didn't want to be nosing around to end in the two separating from each other. She felt guilty and would be hurt if she were the cause of Tamotsu losing his lover. What could she do to settle them? It looked like they were arguing quite badly. Though it was nothing, were she to compare it to when her mother and father fought. Demons were different from Humans in many ways. Some demons you had to fight for your position and their affection. With others becoming subservient could easily garner you favor. Though if one thought about it Humans weren't much different. It was just that some of their ways were a bit subtler. She will admit she felt a little warm when Tamotsu went into the Dogeza position. But this wasn't about her weird fantasies! If she let this go on, a perfectly cute couple were going to split.

"Now hold on!" Illyana called. "Why are you two mad at each other? Mo-- Tamotsu, Liu was just trying to make sure you didn't do something you'd regret later.  And Liu, while I love your enthusiasm, sometimes you need to be a little gentler. Tamotsu is sensitive..."

Liu and Tamotsu looked at each other before they scoffed and looked away. Illyana rolled her eyes.

"Come on guys. Talk to each other." She wanted them to open up at least a little.

Liu sighed. "You get quite persnickety about that room! You act as if it is some sort of shrine that no one can touch or even know of lest it anger your unspoken gods!"

Tamotsu bristled and shot a glare at Liu. He slowly turned his gaze to Illyana. He wanted to gauge her receptiveness. The admittance was sudden and he couldn't very well face her normally anymore. When he looked she slowly turned her eyes away. Tamotsu sulked further in his seat.

"Tsk. It is a shrine, to things I find cute. They are treasures." His right arm was still shifted, showing his stressed state. He tapped the paw's digit on his leg, his tail tucked between his legs and hanging off the couch. The underside was a raven black while the rest was russet brown. "I can treat my treasures how I want an' I don't like people touching my stuff." He would stress the sentence while leering at Liu, who put Illyana in harm's way.

It didn't matter who or what it was. It was his so it was his to protect.

Illyana sighed. How could she get them to talk? She didn't know a great deal about Tamotsu and Liu. They seemed like very similar people. They were very stern and full of an idealized sense of justice. They were very welcoming as she never once felt as if she was intruding. They were definitely kind and something about them made her feel as if they were quite distant from her. She had never seen their Bloodlines before either. Tamotsu didn't seem as awful as the rumors and whatever Liu was by his partial transformation seemed cute! After thinking she would settle on a plan.

"I mean not only do you two live together but you're in love. Shouldn't we try to communicate with each other to settle differences?" Something her mother and father should have done more often.

Liu blinked, looking up towards Illyana with his mouth agape. Tamotsu spat up blood at the commentary.

""WHAT?!"" They shouted simultaneously.

Tamotsu stomped his foot on the ground, his paw tightly gripping his pant leg. "This gaudy dim wit?!"

Liu stood to his feet. "I may be fabulous but I can assure you that your temperament would attract no woman nor man!"

"Who cares!" Tamotsu said. "As long as I have my figurines! You tacky housewife!"

Liu put his hand to his chest. "At least I am no virgin and no otaku!"

Critical hit!

Tamotsu coughed up another mouthful of blood before falling to his hands and knees, body trembling.

Illyana sat there listening to them, fearing the worst, but then her brain caught up. She looked towards Tamotsu who had collapsed to the ground, and was at the low end of Liu's verbal lashing. Then she looked to Liu who was gloating at his witty victory, however brutal it may have been.

"What?" Illyana murmured. "What?!"

Tamotsu winced. "Don't hate me Lily, I'm sorry I'm scum. I just wanted to help you!"

Liu held up his hands. "W-wait, do not take me seriously Tamotan. I merely jest... I have not touched a woman in my life." He tried to calm the man down.

"I'm otaku scum." His entire figure seemed to melt blue in dejection. "My only wife will be a three inch doll in a jar."

The two of them winced at his demeaning words. Illyana shook her head. "Wait, that isn't important! There's nothing wrong with being an otaku these days. What do you mean you aren't gay!?"

Liu lowered his arms and placed a hand to his chest. "Lilytan, there is no need for that. There is nothing wrong with being straight these days."

Illyana ran her fingers through her hair, starting to get frustrated. They were in their own world.

"What--" She hissed. "Do you mean?! All this time I thought-- everyone thought!!"

Liu and Tamotsu would turn their attention to Illyana, the woman suddenly becoming frustrated.

"Lilytan?" Liu took a step back.

Tamotsu stood to his feet. "Lily... are you upset?"

Deep breaths.... Illyana breathed in and would exhale in an attempt to calm herself.

She shook her head and sorted her thoughts. "I thought -- Tamotsu and Liu were gay... and dating." She wouldn't excuse her thinking.

Liu furrowed his brows. "How? Why? I have never shown that I am homosexual~!" He stood in a pose, quite proud of his masculinity.

Illyana and Tamotsu smacked the air dismissively because his manner of speech and flamboyant movements was discrediting enough.

"Lily probably thought that about me because I don't talk to other women, but I told you I've been bad with them since... Lily is the second woman I have ever gotten along with." He turned his gaze up to Illyana, frowning.

She offered an apologetic smile. "You only ever seemed to speak to Liu in a calm and caring manner."

"Well, yeah he's my blood brother. I've known him since we were young."

She understood now what happened. Because no one ever liked to approach Tamotsu they could never find out and she just followed the train of rumors.

"The women at the office gossip about it all the time. They talk about all the strange things Liu and Tamotsu do together and how lovey dovey they are. Because you aren't related brothers they thought it was just you being sworn to each other, pushing the idea that you two were married..."

Tamotsu would narrow his eyes in annoyance. Those damn hens! He'll make sure they lay eggs next time he sees them.

"Well," Liu chuckled. "I can understand why they thought of such things." He turned to look at Tamotsu. "You are too sensitive! You need to be more assertive! Just because you are socially awkward shouldn't mean you can't be more manly!"

The man in question glared at Liu with deep murderous desires. For Illyana it explained a lot of things, but now she had a new problem. Her heart jumped in her chest. That meant Tamotsu was single! She could date him for real! But -- there was the complicated issue of him being a wolf. When she looked to the man of her deep, dark desires he would have reverted to a fully Human state. Illyana searched her thoughts for an answer. But she had none, so she asked a question.

"Tamotsu -- are you Japanese?" Most, if not all, Lycanthrope were European because they were limited to those regions due to the blood feud they had with Vampir. "I -- you're a Youkai, right?"

Tamotsu turned to Illyana. "Only half. My mother is Japanese and my father is European." It explained why he didn't have a wolf's scent, he was a hybrid like her. She didn't smell like a Vampir or Devil. It was unique.

The manager was still worried though. He would take a step toward Illyana. "Lily... I-I can still work. My hobbies don't interfere with my responsibilities. I keep home and work separate." She noticed he did and it made it harder to get to know him.

"Momo -- I said being an otaku in this day and age isn't so bad. You have a job, and are very responsible, right? So you just spend your paycheck on a hobby.... I thought your collection was cute. None of it was perverted or strange. You're very meticulous."

"So -- you don't hate me?" He took another, hopeful step forward.

Illyana glanced to the side. "No, I don't, but--" Lycanthrope and Vampir were mortal enemies.

Could she even accept that? He never seemed to want to hurt her. The man stood in front of her, waiting patiently for her to speak.

She let out a sigh and would reach up her hand to pet his head. "Momo is a good boy."

He reached up to press his hand to the back of hers so he could keep her gentle warmth connected to him. He rubbed into her hand like a lovesick pup.

Liu blinked. "I think you tamed him."

Illyana looked at Liu in confusion, still rubbing Tamotsu's cheek.

"Oh well, as I've said, he's sensitive. He doesn't really care for physical contact or praise." Liu nodded knowingly.

"That's silly." She assured. "Momo has always been like this."

Liu had a strained expression. "You are also the only one who can get away with calling him Momo..." The man thought.