Hitsuzen: And there was Nioh ^_^... I am VERY profound of this character that writing something about him challenges my teasing side. well this one is like an extension of my Nioh fic that you'll also find here in FF. hope you enjoy~ rewritten.

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He loves doing different tricks on her. Every trick he knows that made him so sure she'll bend her attention to him alone.

Always leaves her fuming and him very amused at the end of the day.

He always and relentlessly bugs her because she refuses to give the one thing he wants the most.

Her sweet yes. Her aloof affection. Her heart.

Which Nioh wanted ever since he laid his eyes upon her.

In that faithful day when Sanada almost blew his head off long years ago.

"Dream on brat, you aren't going to get what you wanted all the time. Not especially from me."

He just shrugged his shoulder and flashed that seductive smile he knew would make her blush.

"Well as they say midget, try and try until you succeed. There is no harm in trying."

Nioh Masaharu (Rikkai Dai Fuzoku)

[No Tricks, Marry Me]

"Then good luck, you need lots of it brat."

She would say it all the time with a snort. This has been the usual exchange whenever they cross path with one another. He teases her for her attention and her insulting him just to stop him from distracting her. All those verbal pouncing that he loves, a thing he enjoys because he has all of her attention solely focus on him.

Leaving Sanada frowning more in return which Yukimura would only laugh about every time the former tries his best not to let the team be one member short.

"Must you always tease her so Masaharu?"

Yagyuu Hiroshi asked, shooting up an eyebrow from Nioh.

"Hiroshi aren't you familiar with what I always want?"

His old doubles partner didn't bothered to answer back because everyone in the team knew how badly he wanted her. That as the days, months or even years that progressed so far, she becomes even harder to catch.

"Aren't you tired of trying to trap that particular gazelle you are eyeing way back junior high school?"

Marui Bunta spoke up, popping his apple scented bubblegum.

"A good chase is always a good chase no matter how long it takes. It's a basic hunter's attitude must have."

Yanagi Renji announced as a matter-of-fact earning a 'thank you' smile from Nioh.

"It's a fact so I am not doing you a favor Masaharu."

The data man stated, earning chuckles from Marui and Kirihara Akaya who is busy doing his school tie. Nioh pretended to look hurt which Yanagi was so use of seeing. The latter ignored it.

Now that they are attending college with only Kirihara left in the senior high division, even though they're taking up different courses, the whole team kept it on tab to have a get together whenever their schedule fits them to.

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During History class, Nioh intentionally keeps his emerald eyes on the person busy lecturing in front of the class. Then he sat laid back, smiling at the sight of her raven hair swaying as she shifts her attention from the class back to the white board, quite absorb at the fact that everyone's listening to her.

And he decided that he's happy that he took his first choice of course.

Architecture.

He was skeptical at first, but when he found out that she's the in-training professor for his History class -a soon-to-be Archeologist-, he suddenly made up his mind.

He loves what he has right now.

"So I guess you're happy taking this class even though you have no interest in it. I hope you'll not fail in my subject brat."

Nioh sat on the table and leaned down to her, his face an inch away from hers.

Thankful enough for her, he decided to do his teasing ten minutes after she dismissed the whole class.

"Touché. You could really read me like an open book midget."

"Of course brat, it's obvious that you're not listening the whole time I am lecturing. All what you're busily doing was to stare at me so unnervingly that I wish to hurl a thick volume straight to your face."

This is his favorite part, the verbal pouncing.

"It's because you are more interesting to look at rather than to listen at. Besides, you don't have the guts to do it right in front of your students."

A prominent blush crept its way on her cheeks, contrasting the rage of fire spitting out from her golden eyes.

"Then don't expect me to pass you just because I am pleasing to your eyes brat. This is History, not Art class."

Finishing up scooping her teaching materials on her arms, she walked out without looking back at him. And the again she managed to evade him again, much to his amusement and irritation as well.

He's not growing tired, just plain annoyed.

Annoyed, because it's been taking him too long to make a move that will surely make her say yes.

Something that will cripple her ability to evade, avoids, dodge and elope his intentions.

Like asking her to marry him even though they don't have any relationship to begin with.

Besides, he needs a lot of miracle to take the shot.

Only one shot.

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"Why don't you just approach her and ask her to marry you?"

Yagyuu suggests plainly causing Nioh to frown. Marui nodded with hesitation thinking that it would not be an easy thing to do. It might outrage her since its marriage Nioh is asking at. And knowing the Sanada clan, marriage is not a thing to take that easy.

"Besides, the straight approach would be a lot better than to go on roundabout, I guess you knew already how she hates to be lead around in circles."

Yukimura thought out loud, his cerulean eyes darted on Sanada's direction that is busy writing down notes for his next subject.

"And obviously Genichirou will skin you alive if you don't do it with finesse. You know how important she is for him. You might not be scared of that bokken right there,but I encourage you to do so because it is his precious cousin we are talking about."

A huge, boyish grin flashes across Nioh's face. Something Yukimura was very familiar about. Thankful enough, Sanada is oblivious about it.

What would be the best thing he should do to make her say yes?

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She just finished another lecture when she heard some talkings behind the door.

"Hey had you noticed? Nioh-san is nowhere to be found. Usually he's always in attendance in our History Class but it has been three days since he last attended sensei's lectures."

She frowns remembering that she hadn't seen a white haired brat on her class three days hence. It bothered her since day one but she had only set it aside for the sake of teaching.

She shook her head in dismissal and walked out from the room, absent-mindedly nodding to everyone greeting her.

"If his not interested in my class then all he has to do is to drop it. I am so going to kill him."

Are the very words that run in her mind? And she is dead set of implementing it.

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She muttered a curse as the heavy rain pours down and promises no toning down for the rest of the night. As she gets near to her place, the almost zero visibility nearly created an illusion in her eyes, seeing someone standing infront of her unit. Under the heavy rain and very, very wet.

Her eyes blinked, once, twice before it adjusted clearly to affirm that she is really seeing someone standing. Her feet swiftly took pace, revealing that the waiting person is none other than Nioh.

His usual spiky hair now dripping down from the pouring rain. His clothes clinging wet to his body. A frown creases her eyebrows as she shielded him under her umbrella.

"Are you crazy?! What on earth are you trying to accomplish?!"

She shouted, turning Nioh around to face her. His skin almost white from the cold, his lips blue.

"I know you can't resist me."

"Baka bozu. Of course I cannot resist you."

He heard her say, closing his eyes at last giving in to the exhaustion and the heat of the fever that has been imprisoning him for the past few days.

He could feel something warm beside him, the faint smell of jasmine wafting through his nostril as a small smile appeared on his face.

"You are so stupid Nioh. You are going to be the death of me."

Were the last words he heard.

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He opened his eyes as a renegade ray of light made its way from the window.

"That was a great show last night brat."

She greeted, walking her way to the bed with a tray of breakfast on her hands.

"I think you are no longer young to be reminded that having a fever and standing under the rain were bad combinations for your health."

He only smiles, letting her do all the talkings. As he entertains his self while watching the scene unfolding in front of him. He would love it more specially if he's going to wake up every morning with her being the very first person his eyes would lay upon and where she is the last thing he will see before he falls asleep.

"Geez brat, I don't know what you're up to this time. But please, don't do it again."

"Marry me, right after I graduate from university."

He stated all of the sudden, his eyes seriously intense, meeting hers with so much sincerity she hadn't seen before.

Silence invaded the room.

Then she put her hands on her hips and threw him a glare.

"I saved you last night and that is what you're going to say in return? You were burning hot with fever you big idiot. And you kept me up the whole time so spare me the joke okay?"

"Didn't you hear me midget? That's not what I said. I said marry me right after I graduate from university."

She was again speechless, her glaring softens, and her mouth opens as if to hurl another insult, but instead, she straightens herself and rubbed a finger against her forehead.

"Do you know it was always my dream to marry my first love?"

She announced in exasperation. Trying to discourage him with whatever he is going to say next.

"And you are not that person."

"You weren't my first love either."

He replied with all seriousness.

"Don't you think I'm not aware of that? And can you live up with me with the consequences of me older than you and my family being so ancient?"

She shifted her gaze back to him, her tone soft as she pats a warm towel gently against his forehead. He involuntarily shivered at that touch.

"I told you a long time ago and I'm going to say it again. Age is just a number and I don't care about it. As for your family, do you think mine's ordinary?"

Nioh explained seriously. Silence again stood between them as she continues patting his forehead with a hot compress.

"Na, let's dispense with the round about shall we? You know what I mean."

She defeatingly lowered her head and ceased what she's doing. She sighed and fiddles the compress with her hands.

"Well, honestly I was making a fool of myself. I, uhm well knew that ahm, ah, have feelings for you a long time ago..."

She hesitantly admitted as he gently grips her wrist and forced her to look at him.

"And not until last night that I finally accepted the fact that...I'm in love with you."

A smile finally broke into a grin as he pulled her against him, fitting her perfectly in the circle of his arms.

"Will I propose again to have an answer from you?"

He teases, making her blush.

"You planned this did you?"

Nioh tipped her chin up and looked straight into her eyes.

"The brilliant idea was from 'roshi himself, of course with a well endowed reminder from Yukimura. If you ask me, I had planned of rather playing more tricks and seductions on you until you finally surrender and say yes."

Her brows furrow suddenly, her fist balling into fist and ready to hit him when he held it gently but firmly.

"So?"

She sighed in defeat. Was there anything else she can do about it?

"You are such a dangerous man brat. But yes, I am going to marry you."

"That's good. Because you midget belongs only to me."

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end

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•No matter what happens, you always belong to me•