Traps and Motivations for Willowscry!
Title: Traps and Motivations
Author:
perkyandproud
Recipient: Willowscry
Pairing/Characters: Inui/Niou
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not my circus, not my monkeys
Summary: What motivates a mysterious mind?
Inui's eyes kept being drawn to another young man sitting one row up and down two seats from him. It was only the first day of math camp, and even though Inui had yet to meet the other, with his black hair and rimless glasses, he could swear that the other seemed hauntingly familiar. He was smart, too, asking questions and answering others, occasionally beating Inui to it. It wasn't often that Inui had a challenger at one of these camps and he had fewer friends; those not jealous of his brain were either envious or dismissive of his fitness. The worst mocked him for being a 'smart jock'. Inui found it ironic that jocks tended to think the opposite of him. He took a great deal of pleasure in crushing that type of person at camp, however. He wondered which category this new guy would fall into, and how long it would take to get his data.
After Orientation and the first round of classes (in a 1 1/2 week camp they didn't waste any time), the students all gathered at the bulletin boards to find out their room assignments. Inui didn't bother fighting the crowd, but rather watched the other boys to see who reacted to being his roommate. It was one of his few amusements. The usual sign was a loud cry of dismay and a dash to the councilors' office to request a room reassignment. Though it was rarely accepted, Inui usually found himself sleeping alone regardless, due to some machination or another. Which had to be better than listening to someone snoring all night long, he figured.
The new boy caught his attention again. Oddly, while the strangly familiar boy was getting looks of sympathy and consternation from the other students of both genders, he himself did not seem particularly upset. Inui found this fascinating. Pushing a bit to get through the crowd, he found his name on the list and looked to see who his roommate was.
Niou Masaharu.
That explained so much. Inui had no doubt that few if any of their fellows had the vaguest idea that Niou was also a tennis player, especially as he was the only Rikkai student at this particular camp. He was a little curious about the disguise, however.
As he had no desire to ruin someone else's fun, at least until he figured out how it was impacting his own, Inui walked over to where the other was standing and introduced himself. “Inui Sadaharu. I've not seen you here before.”
“Mm. I am a senior now. My counselor advised me that this would look good on my transcript, so I chose a camp where my reputation would not proceed me,” Niou replied. Inui was fairly certain that there was a twinkle in those eyes behind the reflecting glass.
“Todai, Keio or Waseda?” Inui asked. This was considered polite conversation among undersocialized math geeks; Inui was willing to play the part.
“Undoubtedly,” Niou answered back with a smirk, pushing his glasses back up his nose.
Inui smirked back and led the way to the dorms. When they got tot heir room he could see Niou blink once in shock. Inui's duffle bag and his futon were both soaked, though sitting on a plastic sheet.
“It's a good thing they don't realize you're also a smart jock,” Inui said with a sigh. With the experience of years behind him, he opened the window and picked up his futon to start the drying process. In the summer's heat, if no one resoaked it, it should only take about two days to dry. He shook the water off his duffle, then sat down on the floor to pull out his notebook. The inside was dry, of course. He always made sure that any bag he brought to something like this was watertight. “Don't worry,” he said, nodding at the plastic sheet, “the floor is fine. They learned their lesson the first time.”
Niou blinked again and poked his futon before joining Inui on the floor. “The first time, huh? For a bunch of people priding themselves on their intelligence, they aren't very imaginative.”
“Well, there was the year they tried using syrup instead,” Inui said, “but then somebody forgot to wash his hands after handling my futon and the whole dorm had to be evacuated for a week so they could fumigate. There are a couple of guys who are still a bit jumpy around bugs.”
The slight smile and nod Niou gave him warmed Inui's heart. While he'd never felt he had much in common with the other tennis player, here that little was enough. At least for tonight. Tomorrow he would see which side the other man took. It wasn't easy being a pariah, so he knew there was an 93% chance that Niou would turn on him or choose to avoid him whenever possible. However, that was based on the presumption that Niou would act in a predictable manner, something Niou was not at all known for doing. For the first time since he'd started attending these camps as a grade schooler, Inui looked forward to seeing what would happen next.
Inui finished jotting down his notes then transferred his belongings to the locking chest provided. He'd already glanced at the schedule, nothing new. “Dinner is in a few minutes, followed by some strategy games and icebreakers in the lounge. Usually there is a movie as well. The girls will be herded back to their dorm shortly before curfew,” he said. Most of the interaction was instigated by the girls, of course; again, poorly socialized nerd boys. Inui's few friends he'd made over the years had been girls, but the last graduated earlier that spring.
Niou locked his own chest and looked thoughtful, but didn't say anything. Inui really wished to know what the other was thinking, but the Trickster continued to baffle him. According to Renji, however, he was quite unlikely to get caught trying to sneak into the girls' dorm. Speaking of whom; Inui pulled out his phone and texted his best friend.
[Renji, I found a Trickster at camp. Did you misplace one?]
The reply came only a few moments later, [Ah. Is that where he went. He simply told Genichirou, “See ya.” How's the water this year?]
Inui grimaced slightly and sent back, [As damp as ever. Black haired boy I'm rooming with calls it unimaginative. Might be a fun camp for a change?] Unless I'm the target, of course.
“Chatting with Yanagi?” Niou asked, thumbing through one of the text books they'd been given. “Say hi for me.”
***
Niou was at dinner when the first text from Yanagi came.
[Why are you at camp with Sadaharu? What are you plotting?]
He took a couple more bites before replying. [Math.]
Niou figured, why tell a lie when no one would believe the truth anyway. Which was the whole reason he'd come to this camp, actually; so that his reputation would not get in his way. He wasn't indiscriminate in his pranks. He picked his moments and his targets carefully. Of course, those moments and those targets tended to be high profile. As a kid he relished in his reputation, but now that he was facing adulthood, making plans for his future, he found being notorious to be a pain.
[Just math? How unlike you. Please do not hurt Sadaharu.]
Case in point. Niou sighed, then smiled charmingly at his dinner companions. “Anything I should know, as this is my first time here?” he asked.
He was expecting to hear about the instructors, or perhaps the tests, but what he got was an earful about one Inui Sadaharu, smart jock, mad scientist, and general creeper.
“The teachers use the concoctions he comes up with as punishments for answering wrong or for breaking the rules,” one said. “How messed up is that? The first year I was here, half the camp ended up in the infirmary at one point or another!”
Niou carefully didn't laugh, schooling his expression to one of disbelief. Unimaginative and slow learners; these were the best and brightest minds in Tokyo? He pushed up his glasses as another started their complaint.
“We've done everything to dissuade him from coming, but he just won't take a hint. We even put really good humiliating photoshops of him on LINE and Facebook. See?” The girl's phone was thrust into Niou's face.
He could see why the pictures didn't bother Inui much. Anyone who'd even played tennis with Inui would know that body wasn't his. Inui was overtall and underfed, but he had muscle. Even just from U-17 camp Niou knew Inui was far better built than the body in the picture. He also had one of the finest asses in Japan, which this guy didn't. “Photoshop?” he asked, handing the phone back. “So that's not really him?”
“Of course not! What kind of girl do you think I am?” she asked, indignant.
The kind to spend a fair amount of time manipulating photos of naked men to try to humiliate someone smarter than you, Niou thought. “My apologies. You said he's the creeper?”
“Exactly!” A third boy leaned over the table, whispering loud enough to be heard halfway across the dining hall. “I was supposed to room with him one year. He has notebooks full of information about us! IQ, blood type, average grades, everything!” He shook his head. “Who does that?”
Niou could list off about a dozen names off the top of his head, actually. Starting with the annoying Master who kept sending him texts.
[Niou, I know you are ignoring me. If you think I am annoying now, you really don't want to hurt Sadaharu.]
It was difficult, but Niou managed not to roll his eyes. If he didn't know better he'd think Inui was Yanagi's boyfriend, not just his best friend, based on how protective of him Yanagi was.
[Keep your shorts on, data man. Why would I target your Precious?]
“Keeping data on your rivals isn't unusual,” he said mildly. “Blood type is handy for knowing temperament, after all. Tracking how well you score on the tests here...”
“No, he finds out about how we score at school, too! Plus, he used to creep around in the bushes his first year here. Thank heavens he doesn't do it any longer!”
Again, Niou had to school his face, this time to keep the smirk from showing. If Inui was no longer gathering their data it meant that he no longer considered them a threat. They'd be singing a different tune, if they knew that, Niou was almost positive. He was even more positive, even without looking, that Inui was still trying to collect his.
Inui was a fine one to talk about uncollectible data, however. Though Niou did not have any intention of imitating the other man, he did keep an eye on Inui because of his playstyle. Though Inui relied on his data quite heavily, when push came to shove he integrated elements of other people's signature moves and playstyles into his own, which made him quite formidable. This was not something typical of other data players, Niou knew, even Yanagi. It was almost as though Inui were a chameleon player masquerading as a data player. Despite himself, Niou was intrigued by this. What made Inui tick?
***
Three days later and what Niou knew was that a) the math geeks here were some of the stupidest highly intelligent people he'd ever come across, and b) that the bullying of Inui was seriously getting on his nerves. Inui himself just brushed it off and went about his day, not appearing to let it bother him. Most of it was cyber-bullying, posting of online slander and photoshopped pictures and the like, but there was also shunning and other petty acts as well. Niou laid on his futon and looked over to where the other man was getting ready for bed.
Most of the pictures portrayed Inui as beefy and muscular without his clothes, but the reality was that the other was lean and cut, with a six pack stomach you could cut paper on. Not that he was staring. He was, however, completely fed up. Tomorrow would see the first step in teaching the idiot math geniuses a lesson they would not soon forget.
[Watching your Precious change clothes. Do you think if I told him he had a nice body he'd hold it against me?]
***
Inui finished his morning run by swinging past the results board. He and Niou were running neck and neck for first place. He'd cynically noticed over the last six days that when Niou would tie or beat him, just by a point, that the bullying was much reduced. For a whole half of a minute he'd actually considered adjusting his own scores to keep himself there, but then he'd shaken his head, dismissing the thought. It wasn't his style. Nor was it fair to Niou. Winning because your opponent threw the game felt cheap and wasn't as satisfying. Inui always had a great deal of respect for the other man, so he refused to do that to him. Therefore, today, he was back on top. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and allowed himself a small smile. Success was sweet.
Of course, that would mean renewed bullying. Fortifying himself mentally, Inui excused himself from the crowd of unhappy campers and headed for the showers. Surprisingly, instead of standing still and forcing him to strongarm his way through the crowd, they parted and let him through, not even making a snide comment. Inui wasn't sure if this was odd or if he should just thank his lucky stars. Not that he believed in that sort of thing.
By the time he got out of his shower and back to his room, though, Inui had grown increasingly mystified. People were being...civil. To him. Had they been replaced by pod people or something?
After lunch, during free period, he spotted his roommate coming out of one of the study rooms, slipping his phone back into his pocket and smiling to himself. He really wished he knew what Niou was up to. The fact that he'd not seen any evidence of Niou pulling any pranks was making him concerned. Messing with people's heads was an integral part of Niou's personality. Had he really turned over a new leaf? Or was he not messing with people's heads in order to mess with Inui's? He rubbed the spot between his eyebrows as he quickly banished that thought before it could give him a migrane.
[The weather here seems much less chilly, suddenly. Not sure why.] he sent to Renji, wiping the sweat off his forehead with his other hand.
Renji's reply was almost immediate, [Don't fall for him, Sadaharu. It's a trap. It's always a trap.]
Inui nodded back in greeting to two girls heading into the library, his eyes a little wide behind his glasses. [If that's what it is, then it is a very seductive one!]
***
Day nine and Niou was whistling as he returned to the room that evening. People's attitudes toward Inui had shifted drastically, and bonus, Yanagi was paranoid. Life was good. He was still whistling as he poured the bottle of water he was carrying out onto Inui's futon.
When Inui came in a few minutes later, Niou was laying in his own futon, his black hair spread out on his pillow quite fetchingly. He watched with half-lidded eyes as the tall man recoiled from the wet spot as he found it. “Something wrong?”
“I...my futon is wet,” Inui said. He covered his disappointment well, but Niou could still see it. Inui took his mattress and hung it out the window to dry, just as he had on the first day.
Niou smirked a little. “Oh, what a shame. Tell you what, since I am such a good roommate, I'll let you use mine,” he said, not moving an inch.
Inui's look was puzzled. “But you are using it,” he pointed out. Niou nodded once in response and pulled the comforter open for Inui to join him.
“Your point?” Niou asked, looking up at him. He patted the mattress invitingly. “You wouldn't kick me out into the cold, would you?”
There was a long pause as Inui's eyebrow lifted above the rim of his glasses. “That...would be quite rude of me,” Inui said, it almost sounding more like a question. He carefully slid into the futon, trying not to crowd Niou as he did so.
Niou rejected that plan immediately, however, moving to drape himself half over Inui. He reached up and removed Inui's eyeglasses. “Why grandma, what big eyes you have...”
Inui half-smiled, half-smirked. “You're casting me as the big bad wolf?” he asked. “Isn't that a little backwards?”
Smirking back, Niou leaned in. “You really think the wolf was the big bad in that story?” he asked in return. “I've always had my suspicions about that girl in the red hood, myself.” With that, he leaned in and kissed Inui.
***
[Sadaharu, Niou may have designs on your body. To quote Tezuka, don't let your guard down!]
[Niou, behave yourself! And no touching!]
[Niou? What are you...Niou, stop that!]
[Sadaharu? Sadaharu?]
[Ah. Well....]
Author:
perkyandproud
Recipient: Willowscry
Pairing/Characters: Inui/Niou
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not my circus, not my monkeys
Summary: What motivates a mysterious mind?
Inui's eyes kept being drawn to another young man sitting one row up and down two seats from him. It was only the first day of math camp, and even though Inui had yet to meet the other, with his black hair and rimless glasses, he could swear that the other seemed hauntingly familiar. He was smart, too, asking questions and answering others, occasionally beating Inui to it. It wasn't often that Inui had a challenger at one of these camps and he had fewer friends; those not jealous of his brain were either envious or dismissive of his fitness. The worst mocked him for being a 'smart jock'. Inui found it ironic that jocks tended to think the opposite of him. He took a great deal of pleasure in crushing that type of person at camp, however. He wondered which category this new guy would fall into, and how long it would take to get his data.
After Orientation and the first round of classes (in a 1 1/2 week camp they didn't waste any time), the students all gathered at the bulletin boards to find out their room assignments. Inui didn't bother fighting the crowd, but rather watched the other boys to see who reacted to being his roommate. It was one of his few amusements. The usual sign was a loud cry of dismay and a dash to the councilors' office to request a room reassignment. Though it was rarely accepted, Inui usually found himself sleeping alone regardless, due to some machination or another. Which had to be better than listening to someone snoring all night long, he figured.
The new boy caught his attention again. Oddly, while the strangly familiar boy was getting looks of sympathy and consternation from the other students of both genders, he himself did not seem particularly upset. Inui found this fascinating. Pushing a bit to get through the crowd, he found his name on the list and looked to see who his roommate was.
Niou Masaharu.
That explained so much. Inui had no doubt that few if any of their fellows had the vaguest idea that Niou was also a tennis player, especially as he was the only Rikkai student at this particular camp. He was a little curious about the disguise, however.
As he had no desire to ruin someone else's fun, at least until he figured out how it was impacting his own, Inui walked over to where the other was standing and introduced himself. “Inui Sadaharu. I've not seen you here before.”
“Mm. I am a senior now. My counselor advised me that this would look good on my transcript, so I chose a camp where my reputation would not proceed me,” Niou replied. Inui was fairly certain that there was a twinkle in those eyes behind the reflecting glass.
“Todai, Keio or Waseda?” Inui asked. This was considered polite conversation among undersocialized math geeks; Inui was willing to play the part.
“Undoubtedly,” Niou answered back with a smirk, pushing his glasses back up his nose.
Inui smirked back and led the way to the dorms. When they got tot heir room he could see Niou blink once in shock. Inui's duffle bag and his futon were both soaked, though sitting on a plastic sheet.
“It's a good thing they don't realize you're also a smart jock,” Inui said with a sigh. With the experience of years behind him, he opened the window and picked up his futon to start the drying process. In the summer's heat, if no one resoaked it, it should only take about two days to dry. He shook the water off his duffle, then sat down on the floor to pull out his notebook. The inside was dry, of course. He always made sure that any bag he brought to something like this was watertight. “Don't worry,” he said, nodding at the plastic sheet, “the floor is fine. They learned their lesson the first time.”
Niou blinked again and poked his futon before joining Inui on the floor. “The first time, huh? For a bunch of people priding themselves on their intelligence, they aren't very imaginative.”
“Well, there was the year they tried using syrup instead,” Inui said, “but then somebody forgot to wash his hands after handling my futon and the whole dorm had to be evacuated for a week so they could fumigate. There are a couple of guys who are still a bit jumpy around bugs.”
The slight smile and nod Niou gave him warmed Inui's heart. While he'd never felt he had much in common with the other tennis player, here that little was enough. At least for tonight. Tomorrow he would see which side the other man took. It wasn't easy being a pariah, so he knew there was an 93% chance that Niou would turn on him or choose to avoid him whenever possible. However, that was based on the presumption that Niou would act in a predictable manner, something Niou was not at all known for doing. For the first time since he'd started attending these camps as a grade schooler, Inui looked forward to seeing what would happen next.
Inui finished jotting down his notes then transferred his belongings to the locking chest provided. He'd already glanced at the schedule, nothing new. “Dinner is in a few minutes, followed by some strategy games and icebreakers in the lounge. Usually there is a movie as well. The girls will be herded back to their dorm shortly before curfew,” he said. Most of the interaction was instigated by the girls, of course; again, poorly socialized nerd boys. Inui's few friends he'd made over the years had been girls, but the last graduated earlier that spring.
Niou locked his own chest and looked thoughtful, but didn't say anything. Inui really wished to know what the other was thinking, but the Trickster continued to baffle him. According to Renji, however, he was quite unlikely to get caught trying to sneak into the girls' dorm. Speaking of whom; Inui pulled out his phone and texted his best friend.
[Renji, I found a Trickster at camp. Did you misplace one?]
The reply came only a few moments later, [Ah. Is that where he went. He simply told Genichirou, “See ya.” How's the water this year?]
Inui grimaced slightly and sent back, [As damp as ever. Black haired boy I'm rooming with calls it unimaginative. Might be a fun camp for a change?] Unless I'm the target, of course.
“Chatting with Yanagi?” Niou asked, thumbing through one of the text books they'd been given. “Say hi for me.”
***
Niou was at dinner when the first text from Yanagi came.
[Why are you at camp with Sadaharu? What are you plotting?]
He took a couple more bites before replying. [Math.]
Niou figured, why tell a lie when no one would believe the truth anyway. Which was the whole reason he'd come to this camp, actually; so that his reputation would not get in his way. He wasn't indiscriminate in his pranks. He picked his moments and his targets carefully. Of course, those moments and those targets tended to be high profile. As a kid he relished in his reputation, but now that he was facing adulthood, making plans for his future, he found being notorious to be a pain.
[Just math? How unlike you. Please do not hurt Sadaharu.]
Case in point. Niou sighed, then smiled charmingly at his dinner companions. “Anything I should know, as this is my first time here?” he asked.
He was expecting to hear about the instructors, or perhaps the tests, but what he got was an earful about one Inui Sadaharu, smart jock, mad scientist, and general creeper.
“The teachers use the concoctions he comes up with as punishments for answering wrong or for breaking the rules,” one said. “How messed up is that? The first year I was here, half the camp ended up in the infirmary at one point or another!”
Niou carefully didn't laugh, schooling his expression to one of disbelief. Unimaginative and slow learners; these were the best and brightest minds in Tokyo? He pushed up his glasses as another started their complaint.
“We've done everything to dissuade him from coming, but he just won't take a hint. We even put really good humiliating photoshops of him on LINE and Facebook. See?” The girl's phone was thrust into Niou's face.
He could see why the pictures didn't bother Inui much. Anyone who'd even played tennis with Inui would know that body wasn't his. Inui was overtall and underfed, but he had muscle. Even just from U-17 camp Niou knew Inui was far better built than the body in the picture. He also had one of the finest asses in Japan, which this guy didn't. “Photoshop?” he asked, handing the phone back. “So that's not really him?”
“Of course not! What kind of girl do you think I am?” she asked, indignant.
The kind to spend a fair amount of time manipulating photos of naked men to try to humiliate someone smarter than you, Niou thought. “My apologies. You said he's the creeper?”
“Exactly!” A third boy leaned over the table, whispering loud enough to be heard halfway across the dining hall. “I was supposed to room with him one year. He has notebooks full of information about us! IQ, blood type, average grades, everything!” He shook his head. “Who does that?”
Niou could list off about a dozen names off the top of his head, actually. Starting with the annoying Master who kept sending him texts.
[Niou, I know you are ignoring me. If you think I am annoying now, you really don't want to hurt Sadaharu.]
It was difficult, but Niou managed not to roll his eyes. If he didn't know better he'd think Inui was Yanagi's boyfriend, not just his best friend, based on how protective of him Yanagi was.
[Keep your shorts on, data man. Why would I target your Precious?]
“Keeping data on your rivals isn't unusual,” he said mildly. “Blood type is handy for knowing temperament, after all. Tracking how well you score on the tests here...”
“No, he finds out about how we score at school, too! Plus, he used to creep around in the bushes his first year here. Thank heavens he doesn't do it any longer!”
Again, Niou had to school his face, this time to keep the smirk from showing. If Inui was no longer gathering their data it meant that he no longer considered them a threat. They'd be singing a different tune, if they knew that, Niou was almost positive. He was even more positive, even without looking, that Inui was still trying to collect his.
Inui was a fine one to talk about uncollectible data, however. Though Niou did not have any intention of imitating the other man, he did keep an eye on Inui because of his playstyle. Though Inui relied on his data quite heavily, when push came to shove he integrated elements of other people's signature moves and playstyles into his own, which made him quite formidable. This was not something typical of other data players, Niou knew, even Yanagi. It was almost as though Inui were a chameleon player masquerading as a data player. Despite himself, Niou was intrigued by this. What made Inui tick?
***
Three days later and what Niou knew was that a) the math geeks here were some of the stupidest highly intelligent people he'd ever come across, and b) that the bullying of Inui was seriously getting on his nerves. Inui himself just brushed it off and went about his day, not appearing to let it bother him. Most of it was cyber-bullying, posting of online slander and photoshopped pictures and the like, but there was also shunning and other petty acts as well. Niou laid on his futon and looked over to where the other man was getting ready for bed.
Most of the pictures portrayed Inui as beefy and muscular without his clothes, but the reality was that the other was lean and cut, with a six pack stomach you could cut paper on. Not that he was staring. He was, however, completely fed up. Tomorrow would see the first step in teaching the idiot math geniuses a lesson they would not soon forget.
[Watching your Precious change clothes. Do you think if I told him he had a nice body he'd hold it against me?]
***
Inui finished his morning run by swinging past the results board. He and Niou were running neck and neck for first place. He'd cynically noticed over the last six days that when Niou would tie or beat him, just by a point, that the bullying was much reduced. For a whole half of a minute he'd actually considered adjusting his own scores to keep himself there, but then he'd shaken his head, dismissing the thought. It wasn't his style. Nor was it fair to Niou. Winning because your opponent threw the game felt cheap and wasn't as satisfying. Inui always had a great deal of respect for the other man, so he refused to do that to him. Therefore, today, he was back on top. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and allowed himself a small smile. Success was sweet.
Of course, that would mean renewed bullying. Fortifying himself mentally, Inui excused himself from the crowd of unhappy campers and headed for the showers. Surprisingly, instead of standing still and forcing him to strongarm his way through the crowd, they parted and let him through, not even making a snide comment. Inui wasn't sure if this was odd or if he should just thank his lucky stars. Not that he believed in that sort of thing.
By the time he got out of his shower and back to his room, though, Inui had grown increasingly mystified. People were being...civil. To him. Had they been replaced by pod people or something?
After lunch, during free period, he spotted his roommate coming out of one of the study rooms, slipping his phone back into his pocket and smiling to himself. He really wished he knew what Niou was up to. The fact that he'd not seen any evidence of Niou pulling any pranks was making him concerned. Messing with people's heads was an integral part of Niou's personality. Had he really turned over a new leaf? Or was he not messing with people's heads in order to mess with Inui's? He rubbed the spot between his eyebrows as he quickly banished that thought before it could give him a migrane.
[The weather here seems much less chilly, suddenly. Not sure why.] he sent to Renji, wiping the sweat off his forehead with his other hand.
Renji's reply was almost immediate, [Don't fall for him, Sadaharu. It's a trap. It's always a trap.]
Inui nodded back in greeting to two girls heading into the library, his eyes a little wide behind his glasses. [If that's what it is, then it is a very seductive one!]
***
Day nine and Niou was whistling as he returned to the room that evening. People's attitudes toward Inui had shifted drastically, and bonus, Yanagi was paranoid. Life was good. He was still whistling as he poured the bottle of water he was carrying out onto Inui's futon.
When Inui came in a few minutes later, Niou was laying in his own futon, his black hair spread out on his pillow quite fetchingly. He watched with half-lidded eyes as the tall man recoiled from the wet spot as he found it. “Something wrong?”
“I...my futon is wet,” Inui said. He covered his disappointment well, but Niou could still see it. Inui took his mattress and hung it out the window to dry, just as he had on the first day.
Niou smirked a little. “Oh, what a shame. Tell you what, since I am such a good roommate, I'll let you use mine,” he said, not moving an inch.
Inui's look was puzzled. “But you are using it,” he pointed out. Niou nodded once in response and pulled the comforter open for Inui to join him.
“Your point?” Niou asked, looking up at him. He patted the mattress invitingly. “You wouldn't kick me out into the cold, would you?”
There was a long pause as Inui's eyebrow lifted above the rim of his glasses. “That...would be quite rude of me,” Inui said, it almost sounding more like a question. He carefully slid into the futon, trying not to crowd Niou as he did so.
Niou rejected that plan immediately, however, moving to drape himself half over Inui. He reached up and removed Inui's eyeglasses. “Why grandma, what big eyes you have...”
Inui half-smiled, half-smirked. “You're casting me as the big bad wolf?” he asked. “Isn't that a little backwards?”
Smirking back, Niou leaned in. “You really think the wolf was the big bad in that story?” he asked in return. “I've always had my suspicions about that girl in the red hood, myself.” With that, he leaned in and kissed Inui.
***
[Sadaharu, Niou may have designs on your body. To quote Tezuka, don't let your guard down!]
[Niou, behave yourself! And no touching!]
[Niou? What are you...Niou, stop that!]
[Sadaharu? Sadaharu?]
[Ah. Well....]