247 lbs of Love: The Liar’s Game: First Lie
Three simple rules, thirty short days
Title: 247 lbs of Love: The Liar’s Game
Summary: Jin, Yamashita and Ryo made a bet that Jin couldn’t get into Kame’s pants within a month. Stubbornly, Jin accepted the challenge; what he couldn’t accept were the feelings that came along with it. After all, the third rule was that it was Kame’s job to fall in love; not his
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairings: Akame (main) [Jin/Kame], mentions of Ryoda [Ryo/Ueda] and Tomapi [Yamashita/Toma]
Other Characters: KAT-TUN, Ryo, Yamashita
Content: Romance, drama, light humor, inevitable angst, major Kokame friendship, slightly cruel plot?
Author: Nerd-san
Disclaimer: I am not in any way affiliated with Johnny Entertainment
247 lbs of Love: The Liar’s Game: First Lie
The Liar’s Game: First Lie
Rule 1: No one is to know about any of this being a game
Rule 2: If anyone is to find out about the lies, the game is over
Rule 3: You, by no means, are to fall in love with your victim
“Go on a diet, Bakanishi.”
Jin huffed as he playfully smacked the commenter across the backside of his head. “Shut up Ryo, I’m not fat.” He defended himself from the onslaught of remarks as he lazily grazed around the older man’s apartment. “At least I’m not in love with someone who hates my guts!”
It was a low blow and Jin knew it. Ryo however said nothing and simply gritted his teeth before snorting another crude remark, making his way to the living room where Yamashita was indolently dawdling with the television programs.
It was a rare break for both KAT-TUN and NEWS respectively but nonetheless the fact that the three men were idly moving about Ryo’s apartment served as proof.
Yamashita looked up from his program and broke into a wide grin as Ryo walked in with the popcorn and Jin snugly followed behind, from a noticeable distance, with the drinks. “Took you long enough,” Yamashita laughed as he sat up to make room for his two friends.
“Someone was trying to pick away at the popcorn before it was even cooked!” Ryo scoffed ungratefully, shoving Jin a little with his foot in hopes of the man losing his balance. Jin whined and stuck his tongue out to the older man in a childish manner but said action went ignored by both opposing parties.
A number of minutes passed but neither of the three paid much attention to the exact amount. Yamashita sat in the middle of the other two, engrossed in the TV while Jin and Ryo lazily munched on the snack, trying their best to try and watch the cliché drama that they had no idea how their friend was enjoying.
“I’m bored.”
“Me too,” Jin agreed reluctantly to whoever it was that spoke. He wasn’t even sure anymore, it was almost likely to be Ryo, but Jin was just willingly passing the time now. Off-days were rare and when it came to it, he Yamashita and Ryo spent them to their full extent.
It was just that this time that ‘full extent’ didn’t stretch much past the couch in Ryo’s living room.
“So how are things going between you and Toma?” After a moment of silence Ryo teased, playfully nudging Yamashita in the elbow eliciting a strangled cough from the latter. It was to hide the growing blush, Jin and Ryo knew. “That good, huh?”
“Things aren’t going anywhere because there aren’t things to go places to begin with!” Yamashita turned his head to the side in hopes of hiding the embarrassment on his face.
Jin and Ryo weren’t ones to drop topics easily. And they would continue to nitpick at the poor Yamashita’s discomfit until they were entirely satisfied and that meant the man to be entirely red.
But Yamashita knew his friends better than that. When the going got tough and the tough became embarrassed, it was best to turn the tables.
“But Ryo,” he smirked, shoving a couch pillow in the man’s face, “I should be asking you about Ueda.” Ryo immediately bristled into the pillow’s clutches, flinging it away from his face and across the room.
“How is he anyway, Jin?” Yamashita seemed genuinely interested and Jin only nodded passing up a few words of KAT-TUN’s official leader. Yamashita nodded back, “he sounds just fine. That’s good then, ne Ryo?”
“Shut up - I don’t like him.”
“Whatever, Ryo.” A simultaneous reply came from the remaining two friends as they continued to taunt Ryo. He quelled the thoughts in irritation as he hit his head back against the couch’s pillow.
The three continued on like that without exchanging many words; they sat there peacefully watching the show Yamashita had been keen on seeing while Jin and Ryo simply exchanged unconvinced looks wondering how on earth Yamashita was watching with a straight face.
The credits rolled soon after and Jin shared a large sigh of relief with Ryo. Yamashita frowned and asked the two what was the matter with the viewing. Ryo bluntly stated his thoughts. “It was boring.” And Jin nodded in agreement.
“Let’s see you suggest something we do.” Yamashita took a single piece of popcorn from the bowl and watched in amusement as the kernel ricocheted off the unsuspecting Ryo’s head.
No suggestions were coming from either of the two and Yamashita smirked in mock victory. He frowned however upon realizing that now even he had no entertainment left. Defeated, the three began to mindlessly chat away.
Conversation topics that were expected came and went but as long as those conversations were with each other, neither said anything. Being here, not thinking about anything else was enough.
“I’m bored!” Jin whined for the umpteenth time and now it was Ryo’s turn to watch in amazement as his thrown kernel bounced off of the latter’s head. “Geez Ryo if you’re going to do that just give me the bowl! I’m hungry!”
Yamashita jokingly poked away at Jin’s stomach. “Maybe you are getting a bit stout.”
Jin pouted angrily. “I’m not stout, Pi.” He removed Yamashita’s hand from his belly. “I’m perfectly fine. I only weigh 128lbs.”
Ryo and Yamashita shared a look and then, almost in a mock unison, their brows raised in question. Jin fumed at this action. “I’m serious!”
“Okay...” Yamashita started good-naturedly, “I bet the rest of my popcorn that you just lied to us, Bakanishi.” He ignored Ryo’s cry of the popcorn not being his but nonetheless gave Jin a taunting look. “Want to prove me wrong?”
Jin smirked and rose to his lightly unsteady feet. “Get ready to hand over the popcorn Pi.” He gave the latter a smug stare as he began confidently to the scale Jin knew Ryo kept in the bathroom. “Oh and just so we make it clear; I’m not sharing.”
Yamashita and a very amused Ryo followed in suite, partially anxious and partially engrossed in the ridiculous idea. Jin smirked as he set asides a gaze for both his friends, easily stepping onto the scale.
“Just one.”
“No.”
“One?!”
“Nope.”
“Burn in hell Akanishi.”
“I love you too, Ryo.”
The three were back on the floor of Ryo’s living room this time, the bowl of popcorn resting comfortably on Jin’s lap as they watched another cliché soap opera.
Ryo further fumed as he made another unsuccessful grab for the popcorn. Jin laughed and even the snack-deprived Yamashita had to laugh at the sight. “Just one.” Ryo argued. “It’s my house. God, I made the damn thing!”
“And I helped,” Jin took another taunting bite out of his handful of buttery delight, “I was your trusty sidekick in the kitchen, I need my nutrition too!”
“You’re going to get a side kick if you don’t pass over the bowl now!” Ryo threateningly moved his foot to a dangerous proximity near Jin’s unprepared face. Jin squealed and positioned himself behind the engrossed Yamashita for cover.
“Ne, ne let’s not fight.” Yamashita interjected slowly, only half paying attention to the situation. “If it’s such a big deal let’s just make another bet to get the popcorn back.”
“Or,” Ryo stood up, inching towards the kitchen, “make another batch. Bakanishi’s not worth the trouble.”
Jin folded his arms across his chest defiantly, setting aside his precious prize as he turned to Ryo’s retreating back. “You’re just afraid you’ll lose again.”
This stopped Ryo dead in his tracks and he turned back to Jin with an infuriated stare. “What?” He asked in a dangerous tone. Jin inwardly smiled to himself. He had hit the nerve he had wanted to.
Jin stood up as well, completely oblivious to Yamashita taking away the unprotected bowl from the floor and unhurriedly hacking away at the basin of indigestible kernel.
Jin smirked triumphantly at Ryo’s unusually baffled face. “You heard me. You’re afraid to lose again.”
“I’m not. Who loses to Bakanishi?” It was Ryo’s turn to simper in a sort of unidentified accomplishment.
Without looking away from Ryo’s face, Jin pointed down to his earlier earned trophy. “That says it all.”
Ryo went along and jokingly looked down at where Jin was pointing, all to amuse to younger man. “I don’t see anything, baka.” Jin, confused, turned around. “But if by some chance your talking about the popcorn that Pi just finished, I think you might was to restate your earlier assessment.”
“Stop talking smart!” Jin whined as he turned back to Yamashita with an accusing stare. The younger man simply shrugged with the ‘you weren’t looking’ excuse, putting on his best façade of innocence. It could have worked too, if Jin hadn’t known him so well.
“Pssht, I can do things much better than you can, Ryo-chan!” Jin rolled his eyes albeit Ryo’s frosty glare. “You can’t even get Ueda to fall in love with you~”
“What part of I hate his guts don’t you get?!”
Jin ignored this and continued to gracelessly flaunt his hands. “I can get anyone to fall in love with me.” He snapped back at full force. He was Akanishi Jin of KAT-TUN for crying out loud; people line up just to see him. A laughing Ryo didn’t seem convinced, however.
He waved off Jin’s self-proclaimed offer. “Stop being so arrogant; you couldn’t get a cow to fall in love with you.”
“I could so!”
“No you couldn’t!”
“Why wouldn’t cows love me?!”
“Jin I think you’re missing the point.” Yamashita sighed as he put a stealthy halt to the argument between the two men. Jin sat back down, outwardly deflated although his ego was still kicking. Yamashita saw this and exhaled again. “Anyways why don’t we just make another bet?”
“Another bet?” The statement seemed to capture the interest of both opposing men as they turned to Yamashita with hopeful eyes. Something, a secret was brewing and whatever it was; they wanted in.
Yamashita nodded, now going with the flow of the exchange. He shrugged nonchalantly and then turned to the two with his head lightly tilted to the right. “You know, see if Bakanishi can prove us wrong again when he says he can get anyone?”
He didn’t know what he was saying but he’d be damned if he allowed the others to catch onto his façade. His eyes darted from Ryo to Jin and back. “Like trying to see if Jin can really get someone we choose to fall in love with him?”
They looked unconvinced. Yamashita shrugged, “it was just a suggestion. I’m bored too, you know. I want to pass the time.”
Nothing was said for a while until Ryo coughed. He looked at Jin with his eye brows raised and Jin slightly squirmed under the taunting stare. Ryo was challenging him, Yamashita was no better and now there was no way Jin was going to back out.
“Name your terms.” He said cockily. “And name your girl; I can get them all.”
“And that’s just the thing.” Yamashita sat up now, retracting his head from Ryo’s shoulder and to Jin’s chest with an enthusiastic grin. “We won’t be naming a girl.” Even Ryo looked back in disbelief this time. “Because your target will be a guy.”
Jin scrunched his face together at the thought of wooing another man. He shuffled under Yamashita’s head and shook his. “Sorry but I don’t swing that way - no offence Ryo.”
“I don’t like fairy-boy!”
They both rolled their eyes at the older male as Yamashita turned back to Jin. “That’s what makes it more interesting…” NEWS’ leader shot back, “…unless you’re chicken.”
Another low blow and Yamashita grinned in a cat-like manner at Jin’s bristling skin under his head which was latched rather snugly onto Jin’s chest. The man wouldn’t be able to resist the offer; he was too stubborn to.
“Falling in love is too difficult - even for Bakanishi.” Ryo interjected and the two pairs of grazing eyes landed on his brooding features. “I mean it’s not like we’ll know whether or not they truly love him…let’s just do something more technical.”
Jin shrugged and Yamashita perked up. “Like what?”
“I don’t know…” Ryo thought to himself for a moment. He needed something. Something big. Something that would have Jin yield to his oversized pride. Upon realization, Ryo’s face twisted upward into an inevitable smirk. He spoke the words slowly. “You’re going to get laid, my friend.”
Jin began to cough but he had nothing in his mouth and he knew it. Yamashita knew this too as he gasped for a moment until he understood Ryo’s comical words. His openly pleased face gave no justice to his words, either.
Jin shook his head furiously. “No. Definitely no.” He wasn’t going to even ask who Ryo had in mind; he didn’t want to know.
“Chicken?” The older man jeered.
“No…” Jin huffed idly, picking up the empty bowl and slowly straddling it in his lap. He needed a distraction from the thought of sleeping with another man. “That’s just disgusting, Ryo.”
“I knew it.” Ryo sighed rather dramatically. “You are too chicken.”
Jin bristled inwardly, but Yamashita caught the exchange of shudders. Jin wouldn’t do it, Yamashita knew. He wasn’t like that. But then again, this was Jin. Akanishi Jin whose pride was the size of Japan itself.
That was why when the KAT-TUN member pursed his lips uncertainly and asked who Ryo had in mind; Yamashita was not at the least bit surprised.
Ryo shrugged uncertainty. He didn’t think Jin would have actually agreed. He threw Yamashita who was sitting in his cat-like manner a questioning look.
“That’s easy,” NEWS’ leader complied, “let’s just say Kame. It’s not like Jin’d ever get Kame anyway.” Jin flinched at the stealthy words as he fixated his gaze on Yamashita’s moving lips. “It’s pretty obvious that he’s been keeping his distance for a while now.”
It was true, and quietly the three snuck dubious looks from one another. Kame wasn’t exactly thrilled for Jin’s company and the latter not at all delighted to give it.
Jin pursed his lips together in a firm line. “And what if I succeed?” He didn’t seem to enthusiastic about the whole idea, but nonetheless had to ask. “What’ll be my prize? Popcorn isn’t going to cut it this time…you’re asking me to fucking sleep with Kame for crying out loud!”
He further gritted his already clenched teeth. “And Kame doesn’t even swing that way! It’s a no-win situation for me. And moreover the thought of getting into another guy’s pants is just sick! No offence Ryo.”
“I hate fairy-boy’s guts!”
“I thought you were up for the challenge.” Yamashita defied.
“Challenge,” Jin corrected, “not getting laid.”
“Ne, how much do you have on you right now Ryo?” Bluntly ignoring Jin’s defense, JE’s golden boy turned to an angered Ryo. “At least $119.00?”
Ryo suspiciously fingered the wallet in his pockets. “Why on earth would you want a hundred and nineteen dollars, baka?”
“I’ll pay the $128.00 I just need your $119.00.” He said as if that had explained everything. Ryo further furrowed his look into that of a sullen on, continuing to apprehensively fiddle with his wallet.
“I’m not asking for your life savings,” Yamashita rolled his eyes, “just to make things a little more fun.”
He got up and began to advance towards the kitchen. Reluctantly, Jin and Ryo followed in suite. There was a tense silence dawdling atop of the three but Yamashita chose to write it off as a simple case of the nerves.
They towered over the table in Ryo’s kitchen and amused, Yamashita began to nitpick at his wallet. When he drew out exactly the right amount, he set the bills on the table.
They made no noise and just like that Ryo began to confusedly take out his wallet. Maybe the idiot actually had an idea. “What are you thinking?” He dared to ask the entranced man.
“Jin weighs 128lbs and last time I checked our pretty little Kame was 119lbs. If Jin successfully woos him the $247.00 will be his prize. I’m no mathematician, but I’m sure you understand.”
“So,” Jin began as he watched Ryo place his share of the money on the table, “all I have to do is get Kame to sleep with me?” His common sense still wasn’t too fond of the idea, for more reasons than one, but was slowly finding his saner self spellbound by the thrill of the moment.
The latter’s nodded contently. “But we’re giving you a time limit.” Ryo blurted and Yamashita nodded in agreement. “Because this could go on forever and that just wouldn’t be fair for us.” Jin found his head slowly bobbing to the tune of Ryo’s words.
“How about a week?” Yamashita brought the offer out into the open.
Jin quickly whisked it away, however. “A week’s too short!”
Ryo began to scratch away the back of his neck. “He’s right…a week’s nothing.” He gazed at the open money on the table. “I say we give him a month. No more, no less. Agreed?”
The two friends stared at each other, mentally considering Ryo’s proposal. The nod was simultaneous.
“And if I don’t succeed?” Jin asked, blindly out of curiosity. He wasn’t going to lose. His pride was far too big for such a word to stain his vocabulary. “Not that I’m not going to.”
“We’ll just take our respective money back. It’s just a game Jin, nothing to get so worked up about. We’re bored. It’s something to pass the time.” Ryo said, carefully shuffling the money together in a more organized manner. “In the meantime I’m going to keep this around here. Pi can take care of it after the first two weeks.”
“Oh!” Yamashita suddenly burst out his exaggerated actions. “And there has to be rules. You know, to keep it fair and to keep Kame’s feelings in tact.”
They all saw this to be fair and Ryo continued Yamashita’s words. “Okay. Rule one, you can’t tell anyone about any of this being a bet.” He added earning himself a confident look from Jin and silent agreement on Yamashita’s part. “Rule number two, as soon as anyone else finds out about the bet - the game’s over.
“Failure to follow any of these rules will result in automatic forfeit. Got it, Bakanishi?” Ryo prodded Jin and the latter waved off the words carelessly as if telling him that it would be fine.
“As much as I agree with those rules, there’s one more I’d like to add.” Yamashita cleared his throat and turned his gaze straight to Jin. His stare was meaningful but dull as he spoke. “Also you can’t fall in love. That’s Kame’s job.”
Jin laughed out loud. If the thought of Kame falling in love with him wasn’t already ridiculous enough, then the thought of Jin falling in love with his own friend made him snicker aloud.
He expected to hear the sound of his friend’s familiar laughter cloud the room but there was nothing but a dreary nothingness. Jin calmed down and cleared his throat. “I don’t intend on breaking any of the rules.”
He wasn’t planning on telling anyone. He wasn’t planning on anyone else finding out, either. And of course falling in love with his victim was clearly out of the plan. It had been out of the plan since two years ago.
Perhaps there had been a time where Jin wouldn’t have minded developing feelings for the latter and even saw him as potential boyfriend material. But that was a thing of the past. They were border-lining the stroke of acquaintanceship. They were hardly even friends now.
And, Jin thought with a trace of lost malice, that’s exactly why Pi chose him of all people. Because he knows…no, thinks, it’s impossible.
The evening went on casually after that; the starting date was set for tomorrow as soon as Jin woke up and would end exactly thirty days from then. Neither found a problem with the matter and decided that for now, the case should be dropped. No one else was to know, after all.
“But Jin, seriously…it’s just a game, okay?”
Jin shrugged off the reminder quickly and waved it away with a single hand. The two were throwing on their shoes at the front entrance of Ryo’s apartment, prepared to make their leave for the night.
“Pi, I know. It’s not like we love each other.” Jin assertively met his friend’s dubious look. “It’ll be fine.”
Yamashita sighed, already having his doubts. Maybe it had been a little cruel to name him of all people. “Just…don’t fall too into it, okay?”
Jin sighed heavily as he stood at the doorway with his hands now trekking to his hips in a mock annoyed manner. “Yamashita Tomohisa how many times do I have to tell you that there’s absolutely nothing going between me and Kame?”
“You still call him by his nickname.”
“We’re friends.”
“And as a friend I’m telling you not to fall to deep.” Yamashita said again with an over exaggerated sigh, leaning against the doorframe. “It’s just a game; a bet. Remember it’s going to end…I-I just don’t want a friendship to end in the process.”
“Then let’s call it off.” Ryo sounded irritated as he came from the kitchen with a glass of water in hand.
The two other men turned back at Ryo’s abrupt presence and the latter simply gesticulated to the money on the counter. “If you’re going to criticize me for the rest of your life as being the one who was at fault for ruining Kamenashi, let’s just take the money back now.”
Bets were something placed between the three all the time; they were meaningless, they meant no harm. Jin recalled the time he had roofed his soccer ball while in a match against both Yamashita and Ryo. Ryo’s cockiness had led him to it.
He should have turned back, he really should have. But he didn’t. Instead he had climbed that rooftop to retrieve the ball - something Yamashita and Jin accused him incapable of due to his petite size.
Ryo had been triumphant in the first part as well; with ease he had thrown down the ball for his friends. What they didn’t see coming was Ryo’s missed step that had led him to his two day admission in the hospital.
The insignificant scar on his shoulder was only too easily covered by the director’s makeup now and from a natural angle it was almost completely invisible.
There was also the time they had refused to believe that Yamashita was capable of placing tacks on the teacher’s chair on the first day of junior high. Of course Yamashita had proven them wrong but was put on a one day suspension for misbehavior.
So previous, childish bets hadn’t gone too well. But this was different. This was the first time they had brought someone else outside of their circle into their game of lies; of deceit.
Yamashita began to advance to Ryo’s counter but was put to a stop by Jin’s firm hand on his shoulder. “Don’t.” He gave the doubtful man an unusually serious look. “Whatever happens from here, which will be nothing…but if by some chance something is to happen, I’m willing to take full responsibility for it.”
Ryo shrugged carelessly while the leader of NEWS continued to fidget. Ryo was convinced and even though he acted liked he didn’t mind that much as to what happened; he did. But if Jin was going to succumb to his oversized ego, then so be it.
“From here on out it’ll be a game. I’ll keep any feelings in tact, if that’s what you’re worried about; not that there are any.” Jin reassured the anxious Yamashita one last time before bidding his farewells to Ryo who only slightly waved while drinking his from his glass.
“Come on, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” Jin lightly shoved Yamashita out the door and as soon as Ryo shut it behind them, of course not before criticizing Jin’s persuasion skills, Jin let out a large, hearty breath.
“Kame’ll understand.” He patted his friend’s back reassuringly. “It’s just a game.”
“That’s just the thing Jin!” Yamashita bristled and swatted away Jin’s shoulder with his hand. Jin studied the face that showed nothing but a strange guilt, slowly trying to uncover his friend in the mess of remorse. “I regret ever bringing his name into it. God, what was I thinking?”
“You were thinking of how much fun this’ll be. It’s only a month. It’s only a game.”
“Kame’s feelings aren’t a game.”
“Kame doesn’t like me.”
“The guy still has feelings be it for whomever.” With an elongated snarl, Yamashita began to walk a few paces ahead of Jin, his frustration climaxing greatly. “No one likes to be used.” He turned back to Jin, willing for the man to understand.
There was no understanding in Jin’s eyes, only a slight confusion that he chose to write off. He scratched the bridge of his nose tiredly. “You’re just afraid that I’ll win.”
For some reason, that statement had sparked something in Yamashita’s competitive bone. He creased his eyebrows together and gave Jin a hard stare. “Jin, you won’t win. It’s not possible.” Jin stared back with raised brows. “You and Kame were over as soon as you came back from LA and you know it.”
“It’s been two years.” They were in the parking lot now, Jin fishing out the keys to his ride as Yamashita blankly stared ahead into the night. “Forgive and forget.”
He looked down at his now sweaty palms mumbling, almost to himself. “Not as easily forgotten as it is forgiven.”
“We don’t love each other. We never loved each other.” Jin pointed out merrily as if he had just made an award-winning discovery. “And we’re not going to fall in love because close friends is the extent of our relationship. And I told you - we’re not even that close anymore!”
“Whatever Jin,” Yamashita pulled out his own car keys, “it’s not like you’d be successful in courting Kame anyway. I have nothing to be worried about.”
The fact that he seemed utterly convinced by the statement caused Jin to grip his keys a little tighter; almost to the point where they were going to leave a mark on his hand. He’d act just as he did the day previous and the one previous to that. No one would know.
That was why the next morning at work Jin decided to come early. Only because he knew Kame was always early. He smiled in a small victory as he watched Kame walk into the room, unable to hide the surprise in his features. Jin was never early. Grinning wildly, Jin waved a little at the unwary figure and slowly, Kame waved back.
Jin motioned him over and confused, Kame began to advance towards Jin.
It’s just a game.
-
Ah, it was first supposed to be Yamaki not Tomapi…but ah well it doesn’t make much of a difference =P Anyways, a new multichapter. Please enjoy.