RP Log: Tatsumi and Seishirou Pt. 1 [COMPLETE] {Backdated}

[metousiosis.livejournal.com]

when; 5 October, midnight-ish.
rating; R. Sex sex sex.
characters; Seiichirou Tatsumi (thrifty_shadow) and Sakurazuka Seishirou (sakurazuka_san)
summary; After this little discussion, Seishirou fuels Tatsumi’s lust for revenge on Fuuma and takes it upon himself to teach Tatsumi something about sexual ethics… or the lack thereof. Part one.
log;


Tatsumi didn't take long to find the fountain.

He had heard other people talk about it but never really seen the actually place. Still, even if he didn't know exactly how to get to it, he remembered something someone had told him about the city. According to them, the city guided its people. If one thought of a place they wanted to get to, the city would somehow take them there. Tatsumi didn't know how, or care for it, but with this in mind, he set out.

There was no one by the fountain when he arrived. Sure his new acquaintance would come, he stood beside it and waited.


Seishirou didn't quite arrive at the fountain just in time. However, to say that he was close by was a grave miscalculation; rather, in an alley somewhat distanced from the fountain, he stood, completely hidden in the shadows. Whoever this person was that he was to meet didn't seem too cautious with security when it concerned himself... so he had low expectations for his acquaintance's perception of danger. That was exactly what he wanted.

After a while, he noticed another man, spectacles hiding his face, that approached the designated meeting area. That had to be him. Seishirou grinned instantly; he could appreciate the good looks that he offered. Pocketing his own glasses inside his trouser pocket, he stepped out of the darkness and approached the lone man at the fountain. "Well, you're not Fuuma-kun, are you?" he asked rhetorically, eyeing the other with a charming grin.


Tatsumi regarded the visitor with an arched eyebrow and then a courteous bow. "I take it you're speaking of another of Fuuma's powers?" Fuuma did say he could become 'many things, anything and everything'.

"I'm Tatsumi Seiichirou," he introduced himself calmly as if he were speaking to a fellow businessman.


Seishirou smiled, bringing the light grey jacket in his arm closer to himself. He was quite an interesting person, he could tell - the simplicity of his greeting was almost comical. This would be fairly easy. Smiling still with as much charisma as he could muster, he, likewise, bowed slightly to Tatsumi. "So you're the one I was to meet here... I didn't really catch your name the first time around, Tatsumi-san," he explained, frowning a little before he once more grinned intensely. "Sakurazuka Seishirou. Pleasure to meet you." Indeed.


Sakurazuka was an impressive man; that, Tatsumi could tell. From the way he carried himself with confidence and charisma, Tatsumi couldn't help but wonder if he should be wary or not. He didn't like the thought but, for some reason, Sakurazuka somewhat reminded him of Muraki.

He comforted himself with the thought that he was a Kagetsukai - even if that hadn't exactly worked so well for him in his encounters with Greed and Fuuma. He had been so confident in his abilities before, but now, he wondered if he had reached his limitations. And if he was no longer worthy to call himself Tsuzuki's guardian.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too," Tatsumi said, remembering only now to say that. He readjusted his glasses with his right hand swiftly. "And where shall we have… dinner, you say? It's pretty late."


Now, that was a good question. Seishirou smiled to himself, looking about the area for some sort of place that offered food. Even though the idea seemed all but crass to him, he briefly thought of inviting Tatsumi to his apartment, instead. That would come later, he reassured himself. For now, though, he had to ease himself into the other's trust. "Hmmm. Well, I did see a rather nice restaurant close by on my way here. Unless, of course, you have something else in mind?" Even though he was grinning with what seemed to be innocence, he secretly was smirking to himself; he knew he was getting away with whatever innuendos he could spout off, for now, anyhow. Later on, who knew?


"I admittedly don't know my way around this city, even if we have been here for some time…" He paused and then met Sakurazuka's eyes plainly. "I will trust your choice of establishment."


When Tatsumi looked directly at him, Seishirou knew that there was some sort of naivete there that would allow him to get away with his plans. To be honest, he hadn't exactly planned for this meeting to happen; however, with recent news regarding Fuuma's involvement with this man, he now had his curiosity piqued. "Hm, well, we could go to that restaurant, if you'd like... but..." he paused a moment, frowning in consternation before he looked over his shoulder. No one was seemingly watching. "This matter is quite a private one, don't you agree?" he asked, turning his interrogating stare to Tatsumi quickly. "I would rather your safety be protected."


Tatsumi took in the look in Sakurazuka's face oddly. What did he take him for? He certainly felt like he'd just been sorely underestimated. "I can protect myself well enough, Sakurazuka-san," he said sharply, the action coming from habit. He disliked being underestimated so. "I think I've experienced enough dangers in the city to know that."


Seishirou blinked, looking blankly at the other before a small, apologetic smile came back. "Oh, I do not underestimate you, Tatsumi-san... I merely underestimate myself. I do terribly with such conversations in public," he explained, lying through his smile. It seemed that that was a weak spot there - the other's ability to protect himself was very important. Perhaps that had something to do with Fuuma. "Such a conversation cannot be handled in such an amateurish way. I just wonder now about a place we could go..." He tapped a finger on his chin in mock-contemplation, looking about as though that would help him solve his problem.


"Any place will do, Sakurazuka-san," Tatsumi said impatiently before Seishirou could 'think' too long. "We're going to discuss, not comment on the food and wine."


Seishirou grinned, seemingly now out of his reverie. This one was impatient, he could tell. Luckily, he did see a rather nice restaurant close by. And he would rather have quality food than anything quick for the sake of convenience. "Well, I did see a quiet restaurant around here. That would be good for discussing such things," he added, suddenly grabbing Tatsumi by the wrist and dragging him off with a vibrant smile. He would be sure to bribe the maitre d' for a nice private area.


Sakurazuka's action had startled Tatsumi, but he let it slide, remembering how Tsuzuki himself was the touchy kind of person. He knew he wasn't, of course, and just assumed the Sakurazuka was. He followed the other man in silence and, during the trek to the restaurant Seishirou spoke of, he couldn't help but worry for Tsuzuki whom he had left asleep in the apartment.


The journey hadn't been a long one before Seishirou stopped in front of a gilded door with curvy, indistinguishable letters scrawled across the frosted glass. Almost as though he was undaunted by the obvious luxury implied, Seishirou opened the door, holding it open for Tatsumi. Now came the fun part. Luckily, the maitre d' was a slim woman with red lipstick and her hair pulled back. He could work with this. Seishirou approached the podium with an indulgent smile, leaning against it slightly after she called him forward. "I wonder if you have a secluded table here, miss. I'll make it worth your while if you do," he added, craftily sneaking a note into his hand.


Tatsumi had been too busy surveying the establishment to notice Seishirou's conversation with the maitre d'. His mind was taking in the number of patrons it had, the space, the way the lamps cast shadows on the furniture and the like. He didn't think Sakurazuka would pit him into battle, but it was best to assume the worst.


He hadn't really expected that his "tip" would have been returned by the maitre d', but Seishirou thankfully pocketed the currency note once more as the woman, a smile curving her red lips, led them both to a table half-hidden in an alcove. Racks of wine shielded the table, a cosy two-seater, only haphazardly - but that was good enough for Seishirou, since there were not that many guests present to begin with. After she set the menus down on the tabletop carefully, the black-clad maitre d' left the closed-in area and returned to the front - not without one last admiring glance at Seishirou. He noticed, all right, but he didn't remark on it as he turned his attentions back to Tatsumi. "This should do us well," he mused, staring at the wine bottles briefly.


Tatsumi frowned slightly as they were shown the table but said nothing, It felt far too… intimate for him, honestly. As if they were on a date. He'd never dated, really. Back when he was alive, courting - while it existed as always - was generally frowned upon while arranged marriages were promoted and deemed a familial duty. And after he had died, one couldn't call the times he'd spent tea with Tsuzuki dates. Not really.

"Yes… it should do us well," he said quietly and hoped to get to business soon.


Once Seishirou noted the odd look in Tatsumi's eyes, he smiled a little more. Perhaps the area was a little more intimate than was necessary - the subtle hints of silk roses occasionally sitting alongside the wine bottles certainly didn't help. But he would take what he could get, even if the cost of privacy entailed having guests at a restaurant believe the two men on a real date. He wasn't too bothered by it; in fact, he was hoping for that effect. "Well, Tatsumi-san," he started as he took a seat in the surprisingly comfortable wooden chair. "You wanted to, ah, find something out, correct?"


"Yes… about Fuuma." Tatsumi's voice darkened. "He's not omnipotent as he claims to be, is he?"

Seishirou paused, looking up from the menu he had eyed. After a small, blank look, he smiled enigmatically. "I am none too certain..." He really wasn't. After all, he himself knew only so much about Fuuma. But he would not ever admit that to anyone. He lifted the menu and opened it to quickly scan the alcohol list before looking over the top to Tatsumi. "I'm guessing he somehow read you?" Now he wondered exactly what had transpired between the two.


"We ran into each other at the ball," Tatsumi began while he eyed the menu disinterestedly. "Didn't give him much heed then until he found me the next day….." He closed his eyes, sighing as he remembered the helplessness he felt as he watched Fuuma use his own weapon on him. It had felt like he'd been stabbed by his own knife.

"He… used my own powers against me – and then found it amusing to… to… debase me. It wouldn't have mattered much, losing to him, but now…. I mean to come after him and I need to know his weaknesses. If he has any at all...”


Intriguing, indeed. Seishirou lowered his menu slightly, even though he found it difficult to pry his eye from the liquor selection - merlot sounded a fine choice, he noted quickly before he snapped the menu shut. "You plan on revenge?" he asked with a bemused smile. "How gentlemanly."


"I don't forgive those who hurt my friends," Tatsumi said simply.


Seishirou nodded. "Fair enough," he responded, choosing to chuckle at just the moment a sharply-attired male server approached them with a friendly greeting. At the server's prompt of their beverage choice, he grinned broadly and tapped a finger on the cover of the closed menu before him. "Bring a bottle of your finest red wine, if you would," he replied. It had always amused him that he could get away with ordering red wine most of the time.


"You didn't have to order the most expensive wine," Tatsumi told him. "Anything would have been fine. We're just talking. It's hardly worth it to spend so much for just that."

And after saying that, Tatsumi realized he missed his duties back at Meifu. Calculating costs, figuring out which to fund more or less. It had been a difficult task and more than often he came off with a headache from it but it had been satisfying.


How cute. All that the other seemed interested in was business, in the end. Seishirou chuckled more as he waved the server away with a gentle hand. "Money is simply money, Tatsumi-san," he explained, lifting a brow at the other as he leaned back. "That applies to much more, as well, of course... but I digress," he finished, again opening the menu to scan for his dish. Personally, he was in the mood for a dessert.


"Time is gold," Tatsumi countered. "I think there's a reason time was likened to the currency back then."


Here was the only thing that seemed to pose an obstacle to his goals. This business-oriented thought was a bit of a barrier, but it wasn't necessarily anything that Seishirou could not penetrate. He smiled even more, eyeing the other slyly before his eyes shifted toward the text before him. "Taking things more at face value, though, certainly will not fail you," he replied. Now he could steer the conversation elsewhere. "Any activity can be taken at face-value, you know." He paused a moment, looking at the description for a crab dish. "Sex is a good example," he added flippantly.


The casual mention of sex made Tatsumi blanch. His thoughts were brought back to Tsuzuki and their… night together. Without thinking, he said quietly, "Sex… is…. can't be taken by face value. It’s complicated." And he thought; like his relationship with Tsuzuki.

"Anyway, it's irrelevant to Fuuma."


Seishirou chuckled under his breath as he watched the other's expression. Traditional values always did amuse him, especially when he had an opportunity to taint those values. "If I know his style... I imagine that Fuuma took physical liberties, hm?" he asked, grinning conspiratorially. "It wouldn't surprise me if that was so."


Tatsumi froze. Seishirou's words hit far too close to home. From his own experience, Fuuma was a sexual predator, much like Muraki. It frightened him. The way Seishirou made it sound… had Fuuma touched Tsuzuki that way? He fought the urge to shiver as he calmly put the menu down on the table. "….Fuuma is known for that, is he?" He breathed out more slowly and searched for the right words to say. Tsuzuki had been with Fuuma, long enough for things to have happened and he… He had known what Fuuma was capable of. Had tried to resist it and failed. "I'm going to kill him if he hurt… my friend."


So he had, indeed, struck a nerve. Now Seishirou knew what had gone on in all its entirety. Not that it was surprising news; from what he had heard, Fuuma, indeed, did know how to use his sexuality as a sharp-edged dagger. Impressive - but like he'd admit that opinion. "Not that it is signature, but he has done such before," Seishirou replied, likewise snapping his own menu shut. "Powerful tactic, I must admit... Don't you believe that it might have something to do with the implications of sex?" he asked, lifting a brow challengingly, if not defiantly, at Tatsumi. "You and I are gentlemen - the answer should be obvious."


He eyed Sakurazuka suspiciously and then spoke carefully in a low voice, "…You're implying sex can be used as a weapon…" He knew that, of course, but to have to say it and know exactly what he was talking about was painful. Greed had humiliated him, yes. Beaten him. Bruised his pride. And Fuuma had merely toyed with him and yet the effect had been almost the same.

He frowned. "I have no wish to beat Fuuma using…disgraceful tactics. I mean to fight him in a match. Nothing can be won over such actions… It would not benefit me."


"Such measures... well, I suppose it wouldn't be at all fair to go about this problem as Fuuma-kun chose to," he remarked, laughing a little. "But you were only half-right in your answer." At that moment, the server chose to reappear, this time a black bucket of ice, a bottle of fine burgundy, and two identical ballooned glasses. As the server placed the items on the table and proceeded in opening the bottle, Seishirou shot him a kind smile before turning back on Tatsumi. "I hope you're not so naive as to think that it cannot be used in more ways than a few," he remarked, eyeing Tatsumi with an almost dangerous glint in his eyes. He still, though, kept a genial smile to his lips, just to ensure that there were no outright hints of something lurking behind that charming facade.


Aware of the still-present server, Tatsumi chose his words carefully. "….What… You…" He paused. "I have no interest in that." He didn't speak again until the server had gone and they were alone again. And the interval gave him ample time to think of his situation and to come into morbid realization.

"You don't know any more about Fuuma than I do, do you?" he questioned in a low and dangerous tone.


Whether or not the server had left, Seishirou would have laughed after Tatsumi's accusations, anyhow. "Now, where did you fabricate that tale?" he asked bemusedly, smiling as though he were secretly mocking Tatsumi. Seishirou did have some knowledge of how Fuuma worked... but it wasn't as intimate as he had led Tatsumi to believe. He wouldn't tell. Withholding information was not something that crossed his mind as wrong. Neither was lying. "It's rather charming how naive you can be, Tatsumi-san. You must be popular with women."


"I couldn't care less whether I am popular with women or not!" Tatsumi snapped. He calmed down quickly again after that and then bowed slightly in an act of apology. "I'm sorry, but I believe our meeting ends here. I have a friend waiting for me back home and, as you have said, Fuuma may have taken physical liberties on him. I think my time is better spent consoling my friend."


This was unexpected, indeed. Seishirou had not thought that such a business-like man would act so passionately about this situation... especially if it were only a "friend". Quickly, Seishirou put two and two together and suddenly hovered over the table, slamming his palm down upon Tatsumi's hand as if to trap him. "Quite a deal of concern over a friend, Tatsumi-san," he remarked with a deceptively calm voice and smile. "You're worried that Fuuma marked your lover, aren't you?" He knew he was right.


"Tsuzuki-san is not my lover, Sakurazuka-san!" he said hastily and realized too late how that must've come out. He added quickly, "He's… my friend. We've been friends for a long time… It's natural to be concerned for a friend of a long time. Please refrain from debasing him."


The small smile that curved Seishirou's mouth grew into a rakish, triumphant grin. So this Tsuzuki-san was his... "friend". That was something worthy of note. Quickly, he tucked that piece of information away in the filing cabinet-like recesses of his mind. That might prove useful later. A sly look darkening his amber eyes, Seishirou pushed his weight off the table and returned to sit down once more. "Debasing him? I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that to your... Tsuzuki-san," he chimed. "But I suppose you should worry – Fuuma-kun had, indeed, marked him." He paused, his expression growing calculating as he poured some of the burgundy into his glass. "But that brings us back to the reason you and I are here, correct? You want revenge on Fuuma-kun… I can help you...”


Though there was truly no guarantee that Fuuma would repeatedly pursue Tsuzuki after this beyond Seishirou's words, Tatsumi found himself unable to rid himself of the idea. Beyond the fact that the man was a sexual predator, Tatsumi did not really have an idea of how Fuuma worked. Unlike Muraki whose actions towards Tsuzuki he could trace to an obsession with Tsuzuki's eyes and murky heritage, he had nothing to anticipate when it came to Fuuma. The idea that a repeat of the suffering Tsuzuki went through with Muraki was imminent made Tatsumi stay even if he suspected the Sakurazuka was merely baiting him for… something. He eased into his seat.

While he'd rather console Tsuzuki now, rather ensure the damage was minimal, he also wanted to keep the incident from repeating. And he would do anything to achieve that goal.

"Then tell me, Sakurazuka-san; How can you help me?"


Seishirou leaned back further into his chair, taking a small swill of burgundy before setting down his own glass and reaching for Tatsumi's empty one. "Perhaps I could tell you more of how Fuuma thinks... why he does what he does... what pleasures," he underscored with an emphasis in his voice, ".. that he may gain." He took the bottle of wine and slowly began filling up Tatsumi's glass with dark red liquid. "And how to prevent it. But... only if you're willing to learn." He smiled charmingly across to the other. "Leaving this instant and assuming I know nothing is not a wise course of action, if you're willing to learn."


How to prevent it. Sakurazuka's words piqued his interest more than he'd like to admit. As he watched the other man fill his glass, he looked back on his own encounter with Fuuma. He had felt helpless under the man's…. actions. And here, Seishirou was telling him there were ways to prevent it?

To resist?

He kept his face blank of all emotion as he began weighing the consequences of his actions should he take it upon himself to learn from Sakurazuka. He was not oblivious and obviously, Seishirou's offer promised… sex. Or something relative, he was sure.

"I'm not the one who Fuuma is targeting but rather my friend," he told Sakurazuka. "If anyone needs to know how to prevent it-" He cut himself off, realizing how he'd pretty much implied giving Tsuzuki to this man. "….My friend is not one for… sexual encounters. I doubt Fuuma will gain anything from him but… pleasure towards suffering…. I hope what you're offering me will help me ensure Fuuma never lays his hands onto him anymore and not so Fuuma does not get his satisfaction out of me."


"I believe that first, you must understand Fuuma's psychology," Seishirou started, placing the other's now filled wine glass before him encouragingly. "That would be the best way to approach this dilemma." He reached one last time for his menu and opened it to once more scan over the items. "Hm, I wonder what's the most expensive dessert here," he mused under his breath, though he ensured it was loud enough for Tatsumi to hear. "Perhaps I should order it.."


"You obviously have too much money in your hands," Tatsumi murmured darkly as he accepted the offered wine. He took a small sip. "One shouldn't waste money so carelessly. The future is uncertain."


Seishirou smiled to himself as he eyed the confection's description on the menu. "You do only live once, Tatsumi-san," he replied carelessly as he looked back to the other from behind his shield of heavy-stock paper. "It's a shame I cannot cook such fine things - I imagine I would save more money." He didn't care too much, really; finer things were usually at higher prices. Supply and demand still worked in this place, it seemed.


Seishirou's statement about life amused him a bit. You only live once, they keep saying, until you become shinigami. He decided his work had nothing to do with the situation and was best left aside. "Then learn, Sakurazuka-san. It's true that some people are hopeless in cooking, but practice does make perfect."


Tatsumi was a little odd in this respect, although Seishirou had somewhat lied to him about his skill. Not that it really was any of his business. "If I didn't think any better, we sound rather like a married couple bickering," he remarked with a cheeky grin. "I guess I shall order that, then."


The shinigami frowned at the comment; he doubted two grown men could sound like a married couple bickering. "I doubt we're anywhere near being like a married couple, Sakurazuka-san. That remark was done in poor taste."


A grin crossed his face slowly as Seishirou finally let the menu rest at the table. "It does not seem as though you're willing to learn from me just what to do if you're more interested in critiquing my financial dealings," he commented with a deadly silence. "If such is the case, I may well leave." He was dying to see the other beg for the opportunity to learn from him... It would be an interesting turn of the tables, indeed. Once the server approached them both again, Seishirou turned to grin at him sunnily. "Yes, I'd like to order this," he said, pointing to the item on the menu he had chosen. "And are you able to package that to go?"


"I am willing to… learn," Tatsumi said quietly, wary about the other leaving but not quite enough to make him back down. "But I have my beliefs and admittedly, it's a force of habit of mine to ensure everyone else does not go about making silly mistakes without knowing what could be done. Whether you adhere to my critique is your problem. I'm not your mother."


Even though now he had swayed Tatsumi into staying, Seishirou still waved the server away with his requests and returned his focus to the other. “Of course, you realise I wasn’t really leaving,” he referred to his orders, chuckling with a joking smile. “But, there was a reason I did that… Do you think it wise to discuss tactics that should remain secret in a public area?” His expression grew serious now, and he lifted an imploring brow at Tatsumi. “Even if it is somewhat secluded here…”


Tatsumi stared at the liquid in his wine glass for a while and then put the glass back on the table. He closed his eyes, sighed and pushed his glasses upwards. "Next you'll suggest we discuss further in your apartment….isn't it?" He paused for a bit but didn't give enough time for Seishirou to say anything as he lifted his head to meet the Sakurazuka's gaze seriously.

"But I have no choice, do I?"


"Unless you would rather we head back to your own flat?" he suggested, his brow still perked. "I can be assured that no one else is occupying my own, but, if I recall properly-," he paused, tapping a finger lightly on his chin. "Do you not have guests of your own at your flat? It would be rather rude of me to barge in unannounced." Of course, that was true, but he wasn't really concerned with niceties. If anything, had he more investment in his "vows" to help deconstruct and destroy Fuuma, he would have been much more concerned of the security. As such, though, he could lie and get away with it. He might as well have worked with what he had.


“I'd rather nobody else know about this. Your flat it is then."

Tatsumi couldn't imagine letting Tsuzuki know what he was doing. It would make Tsuzuki guilty, hurt, sad.


So he had won out. He hadn’t really expected much less than that. Seishirou smiled faintly, his eyes unreadable before the server reappeared for what seemed the umpteenth time all night, a pristine white box in one hand. “Ah, that must be my mocha tiramisu,” he exclaimed in an almost singsong voice as the box was set down upon the table. Once the server stood expectantly at the table a second longer, Seishirou eyed him and then Tatsumi. “Would you like anything, Tatsumi-san?” he asked, pointing to the pen and order booklet in the server’s hands.


"No. I'm not too fond of sweets."


That was enough of an answer for Seishirou, who neatly requested the bill and paid it off. Of course, for the trouble the server and the maitre d’ went to, he left in a rather hefty tip to accompany the already pricey tab he had run. As he handed the black payment book to the server, he looked to Tatsumi with a polite, cheery grin. “If that is as you say, then shall we be off?” He knew the answer already, and he unfurled his light grey blazer to slip into. It was starting to feel a little chillier outside lately.


Tatsumi followed Seishirou silently, feeling oddly numb despite knowing what he was getting into. He didn't need details to know he was probably going to regret this. But even knowing that, he refused to back down. If this was somehow going to help him protect Tsuzuki, then so be it. He didn't trust Seishirou too much, but he also didn't have any other options, and admittedly, one can never judge prematurely. It was cold outside but he shrugged it off. He was already dead; his body couldn't die of natural causes anymore.


The trip back to Seishirou’s flat didn’t even seem to be as long as it normally was. He was somewhat glad for this, since he was beginning to long for things to progress at a much swifter tempo. Once they both reached the apartment door, he unlocked it and pushed it open fluidly. “I do apologise for the mess, Tatsumi-san,” he announced as he flipped on the light switch. The odd thing was that the apartment was almost immaculate.


"You wouldn't want it empty," Tatsumi remarked as he entered after Seishirou and stood surveying the place.


Seishirou chuckled to himself with appreciation. So his acquaintance did have a sense of humour after all, albeit a dry one. “I would not mind if it were empty,” he replied as he slipped out of his blazer and hung it on the coat rack beside the doorway. “It’d be less to clean.” Soon after, he stepped out of his black polished shoes and pulled on a pair of white house shoes. “You may sit, Tatsumi-san,” he continued after a pause while he brushed past the other and took up occupancy in a rather large armchair.


Tatsumi would have preferred to stand up really, but seeing as his host was sitting down, he found himself unable to do anything but follow suite. He briefly looked around and decided the nearest sofa would do. Even if it did look like a love seat.